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I have three other siblings whom three of us had borrowed money in the past. I borrowed $6,000 in 1983 and paid it back nine months later. I have a sister that borrowed $5,000 in 1975 and never paid it back. This is noted in the will.
Can I charge her interest on the amount or at least... View More 
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answered on Sep 26, 2019
This question really cannot be answered without reviewing the precise language in the will and the promissory note evidencing the $5,000 loan. The question about whether the loan bears interest is actually a little more complicated than you think. It gets even more complicated if there is no note... View More
My grandmas conservator chose to remove beneficiaries of investment annuity accounts and transfer them into her estate for probate. My grandma already had assets in her estate to cover any expenses, and after she was deemed incompetent by the court, her attorney submitted a new will and sealed it... View More
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answered on Sep 6, 2019
There might have been legitimate reasons, but it sure does sound fishy to me. If I were you, I would hire a local probate attorney and petition the court to appoint you executor and to probate her previous will or, if you can't find it, to probate her estate as an intestate estate. That will... View More
This is a lake property. In past years we ran it as a resort. For 20 years I worked (unpaid) at the resort. I feel I have a vested interest in the property. My parents want to transfer the property to me and move to senior living. We met with an attorney. She gave us two options. My parents could... View More
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answered on Aug 30, 2019
An irrevocable trust that does NOT reserve to the settlor the ability to change beneficiaries but it still classified as a "grantor" trust, the assets of which are includable in your parents' estate, would solve your problem with respect to ensuring you get the property eventually... View More
The seller won't be at closing and pre-signed all paperwork but the title needs to be transferred to a trust without ever being put into the name of the buyer. It needs to go directly into a Trust. Can this be possible if the seller pre-signed?
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answered on Aug 24, 2019
If the seller has already signed the deed to the buyer, then no, not without having the seller sign a deed directly to the trust instead, and if you are going to do that, then there are other papers that will need to be signed and some redone as well. There needs to be an assignment of escrow from... View More
She was adopted as a baby and is now 42. If she doesn't have a will, or that her wishes are spelled out, will her biological mother/siblings be entitled to what she owned after she passes away, or would it go to her adopted family?
answered on Aug 20, 2019
If someone passes away without a Will, they are deemed to have died Intestate. Minnesota then sets forth a "default estate plan" for the person. This default plan basically sets forth that the persons closest living family members have priority to act as the Personal Representative (or... View More
In his personal bank account. She said that in a few years when she is in a lower tax bracket then she would give it out. Nothing went to probate and has done not followed thru with her fiduciary duties. He passed in 2017. Can creditors come this late collect any monies?? This has been difficult... View More
answered on Aug 15, 2019
This question should be reviewed in detail by a probate attorney. The largest issue here is probate assets versus non-probate assets. While your sister may be the Executor of the Will, this only extends to probate assets (or assets in your father's name alone with no beneficiary designations... View More
I don't have a formal complaint. But what if I find out months after I sign that she stole from the estate?.
answered on Aug 15, 2019
Prior to signing a receipt and release of the Executor (or Personal Representative), a beneficiary of the estate has the opportunity to review a detailed accounting of the estate. An accounting should set forth the probate assets and the payments made by the estate. These payments can include... View More
Nothing was filed in Probate. No executor nor representative was appointed. As far as I can tell, no one had a legal right to even enter the deceased person's apartment, let alone remove all property.
answered on Jul 16, 2019
As a criminal defense lawyer, I don't know which, if any, such law exists. Perhaps it does. When someone claims a law, unless it's a criminal law I generally ask them for the Statute citation number. Then we can read it online. If the problem relates to disposition of the personal... View More
She needs me to help pay until her house sells. Will they come back on me if she repays me from the house sale?
Please respond to
answered on Feb 6, 2019
Medical Assistance laws, including Elderly Waiver (EW), are incredibly complicated and can have harsh penalties if there are any financial issues or reporting mistakes. Also important to remember is that each state has its own Medicaid laws (Medical Assistance in MN), so you cannot rely on an... View More
My cousin and I are both the agents (acting jointly) for our Aunt, who's 79 yrs old, on a durable power of a attorney.
The Principle has diminished mental capacity, is a US citizen currently living in the Philippines. One agent is in Nevada, the other agent is in Minnesota. Only one... View More
answered on Feb 6, 2019
Generally, the answer to this is no. The Principal should not need to be present for his or her Attorney(s)-in-Fact to use the Power of Attorney document. In light of the recent epidemic of misuse of POAs and the exploitation of the elderly, many banks have attempted to institute additional... View More
answered on Dec 11, 2018
Unfortunately, if you cannot find her Will, her estate will be treated as if there never was a Will. Her estate will then follow the MN rules of Intestate Succession.
Here is a link to the MN Rules, if that helps: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/524.2-101
Thanks for the... View More
answered on Dec 11, 2018
The answer to this question depends on what you would like to happen with your assets after you pass away. Minnesota does have a default estate plan for individuals who die without a Will. This process is called Intestacy. Basically, Minnesota law will assume that your closest living relatives are... View More
I have one house and one town home. I want to make sure that 100% of my property will go to my children only. Not to the state or medical bills or creditors.
answered on Aug 15, 2018
Thank You for your question. The best way to ensure your heirs inherit your property while protecting it from creditors - especially medical providers and the like, is to transfer it into an Irrevocable Trust.
The Trust will then own the property, not you. This is important because if you... View More
answered on Aug 15, 2018
Thank You for your question. The best way to ensure your heirs inherit your property while protecting it from creditors - especially medical providers and the like, is to transfer it into an Irrevocable Trust.
The Trust will then own the property, not you. This is important because if you... View More
does this mean I would not be eligible for any life insurance payment or are they separate?
answered on Aug 7, 2018
it depends. If you are the named beneficiary of the life insurance policy, the payment should go directly to you, and not through the estate. If the estate is the beneficiary of the life insurance policy, then the estate would receive the payout and distribute it to the appropriate heirs
answered on Aug 7, 2018
Such a stipulation would be null and void as against public policy
This has included but not limited to doing the funeral arraignments, looking for an attorney, providing transportation, cleaning out his mother's rented house, getting info for setting up an SNT and ABLE account, and countless other errands. I guess what I need to know is him paying me an... View More
answered on Jul 19, 2018
Thank You for your question.
I actually answered it the first time you posted it last week... But in case you missed it, here is my answer again:
The short answer: Yes. Assuming there was a Will, and your relative was named Executor, he is free to seek whatever reasonable... View More
This has included but not limited to doing the funeral arraignments, looking for an attorney, providing transportation, cleaning out his mother's rented house, getting info for setting up an SNT and ABLE account, and countless other errands. I guess what I need to know is him paying me an... View More
answered on Jul 17, 2018
Thank You for your question. The short answer: Yes. Assuming there was a Will, and your relative was named Executor, he is free to seek whatever reasonable assistance is needed to carry out his duties. Being an Executor is work, as are all the duties necessary to carry his responsibilities. As long... View More
answered on Jun 1, 2018
The answer will depend on many things, only one of which is your father's having a Will. First, if the condo is subject to a mortgage, the mortgage will have to be satisfied. So, your father could leave you the condo and if his Will provides for payment of his debts and he has other assets... View More
answered on May 11, 2018
The short answer is Yes, you can leave all of your property to just one child. However, in order to accomplish that, you will need to specify those wishes clearly in properly drafted estate planning documents.
Generally, it is assumed that if a decedent doesn't have a spouse, that... View More
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