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Mississippi Estate Planning Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Mississippi on
Q: What do i need to do to to get the house in my name?

Grandmother left the house to my uncle through a warranty deed. Uncle passed 6 months after grandmother. Uncle left house to me through a will. Uncle never went and did anything to have the house put in his name other than the warranty deed grandmother did. What do I do now? I am the only one named... Read more »

Anthony M. Avery
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Anthony M. Avery
answered on Apr 13, 2023

If the Will is not filed for Probate then Uncle's Heirs own the property as tenants in common. If you and the niece are the only heirs, then you might get her to deed her interest to you, with a derivation clause describing heirship. Whatever you do, hire a competent MS to search the... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Banking for Mississippi on
Q: My mother-in-law did a transfer on death for her home that she owned and lived in with her two adult sons. One son is my

Husband. He lived there taking care of her and working from home part of time and at our home in Arkansas. MIL left house with TOD in my husband's name only because his brother had so many school loans and she didn't want "the big man" getting on his part. Apparently there is a... Read more »

Nina Whitehurst
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Nina Whitehurst
answered on Feb 26, 2023

When your husband sells the home, the home equity line of credit will need to be paid off in order to pass free and clear title to the buyer. Yes, the gift of half of the proceeds to your husband's brother would be a taxable gift to the extent in excess of $17,000. However, there is a... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Estate Planning for Mississippi on
Q: How valid is a trustee's deed from the executor of an estate trust? Shouldn't it be a warranty deed instead?

Both of my parents died last year. They maintained an estate trust. There are four children listed with my sister being designated as the executor. Recently she distributed the first disbursement in which she wrote herself and my two brothers checks for $150,000. She gave me property in the... Read more »

Anthony M. Avery
PREMIUM
Anthony M. Avery
answered on Aug 31, 2022

You do not have a right to any type of certain deed conveyance. You can make a motion in the Probate Case, or an action against the Trustee, for a better distribution of Trust Assets, but you will probably lose. Hire a MS attorney to advise you of what to do, but I think you will find that her... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Real Estate Law and Probate for Mississippi on
Q: Why does my sister have to pay a lawyer to get my deceased mother's house in her name?

My mother died from a terminal illness. After mom passed away my sister said she didn't leave a will but later on she said she found a will and mom had left me her car . I also asked her about my mom's bank account cause the hospital just gave my sister my mom's debit card, she said... Read more »

Nina Whitehurst
PREMIUM
Nina Whitehurst
answered on Jun 14, 2022

This does not sound at all like you are being played. When a person dies, everything he or she owned in his or her individual name (with no beneficiary designations) must go through a legal process called probate in order to get those things transferred to the intestate heirs (no will) or... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Mississippi on
Q: In Mississippi, does Life Estate cancel the Look-Back Rule and the Medicaid Estate Recovery Program

my family is preparing m mother's assets. she is healthy and well now, however we are looking ahead.

Anthony M. Avery
PREMIUM
Anthony M. Avery
answered on May 8, 2023

No, and Federal Law targets LE/REM conveyances that are less than 5 years old. Hire a competent MS attorney to explore asset protection. Possibly Mother intends to return or never leave her home.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Elder Law and Probate for Mississippi on
Q: Do I need to probate my mom's will? I am her only heir, all of her bills are paid & she had no assets in her name.

She had 2 life insurance policies naming me as the only beneficiary. She also had joint checking account with me. I have received 3 checks since her death made out to her estate (the checks were for reimbursement of some insurance premiums). Bank says I need to open an estate account & deposit... Read more »

Randall R. Saxton
Randall R. Saxton
answered on Nov 29, 2022

No, you can complete a small estate affidavit and present that to the bank.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Mississippi on
Q: What role does estate lawyer play in MS when the courts appoints a non family administrator of intestate estate.

Mother died without will in MS. One of 9 heirs was unwilling to compromise on division of land and assets, Heirs hired an attorney but courts appointed a non family administrator. What will the attorney use our money for if there is an administrator.

Randall R. Saxton
Randall R. Saxton
answered on Oct 24, 2022

Mississippi requires a lawyer to draft and file all of the necessary pleadings with the chancery court.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Probate for Mississippi on
Q: What do I need to do to secure my minor son’s inheritance from his fathers estate, without help from his family?

I have only seen the Will of my son’s late father, who passed in 2021. The will leaves everything to our son. However, his parents took control over his businesses, properties, vehicles, guns, accounts, everything. His father is the executor and has not told me a single thing about what is... Read more »

Melissa L Gardner-Ardoin
Melissa L Gardner-Ardoin
answered on Apr 27, 2022

You should file a objection with the Court and inform the Court what is going on. There is no reason for the beneficiary to be homeless if there is a house that has been left to him. You can get a copy of the Will from the courthouse. Go to the Chancery Clerk’s office in the county where your ex... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Mississippi on
Q: My grandmother passed away and left her vehicle to me.. How long do I wait to take possession of it?

All family involved, signed the will as requested.

Now, according to my sister (executor), I cannot take possession of the vehicle until one year from the date of the judges signature. I understood it as I could not obtain the title until a year later but I could take the vehicle. What is... Read more »

Melissa L Gardner-Ardoin
Melissa L Gardner-Ardoin
answered on Apr 21, 2022

The estate must go through probate, which should be 4-6 months, depending on how quick the executor and attorney work. Once the Judge signs the Order closing the probate and transferring the property, you can take possession immediately. If you are a minor or without a driver’s license, the... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law, Collections and Probate for Mississippi on
Q: Will the irs take away my family houses and cars after my dad passes? He owed back tax everything is only in his name.

Basically he has two homes but he’s the only name on the homes and the cars we use. We finally opened his mail and he owes the irs a lot like over 50,000 in back tax.

He is in hospice and not mentally able to do anything like sign anything over or make a will.

I want to get the... Read more »

Melissa L Gardner-Ardoin
Melissa L Gardner-Ardoin
answered on Feb 20, 2022

In order to transfer the titles and deeds of property to another’s name after the death of the title owner, the estate will need to be probated so that the Court can issue an order allowing the transfer. The IRS can, of course, seize property to satisfy the tax debt; however, the question is... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Mississippi on
Q: Had uncle who died. My father and my uncle are heirs. Land loan is on the property that is currently being paid.

Yet the county won't let me get tags without proof of residency and everything is still in my deceased uncle's name. Please help

Melissa L Gardner-Ardoin
Melissa L Gardner-Ardoin
answered on Jan 20, 2022

The deed to the land cannot be changed without court intervention. It should be probated so that the deed can be changed to the names of your father and uncle. That, however, won’t solve your problem since you are not an heir to the land. You have to establish residency in the county yourself,... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Mississippi on
Q: My father wrote a will leaving everything to 1 of his 4 children, omitting the names of 3 children from his will. Legal?

A non-lawyer told me all four children should be named in the will even if some are not beneficiaries. True in Mississippi? The children are adults.

Randall R. Saxton
Randall R. Saxton
answered on Jul 4, 2021

There is not a requirement to name all children.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Child Support for Mississippi on
Q: Parents willed a house to me but there's no deed or survey for it.

I am finding out that it will never be in my name. Do I have any recourse?

Anthony M. Avery
PREMIUM
Anthony M. Avery
answered on Jun 29, 2021

There is no recourse for you against anyone. But your Parents probably took the property as heirs at law under intestate succession. You may want to hire a competent attorney to search the title and determine heirship. Then you record an Affidavit of Heirship in the County Records. That will... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Mississippi on
Q: Do I any right as a niece with my aunt that don’t have any children and have never been married

All her siblings are deceased

Julie King
Julie King
answered on Jun 14, 2021

If your aunt had a trust or will, then the document will say who inherits her assets. If she had no trust or will, then the probate laws will state who inherits her estate. A lawyer would need to know what state your aunt lived in before a lawyer could tell you what the probate laws of that state... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Business Law for Mississippi on
Q: In biz when policy/procedures (rules/regs) are written, "reasonable" must be defined or examples given. Why not here?

I can't see if this question is linked to the topic I was researching. It concerned cemetery law. 2013 Mississippi Code, Title 41 - PUBLIC HEALTH, Chapter 43 - CEMETERIES AND BURIAL GROUNDS, CEMETERY LAW

§ 41-43-47 - Cemetery rules and regulations

Randall R. Saxton
Randall R. Saxton
answered on Apr 28, 2021

In law, reasonableness is subjective and dependent upon the particular circumstances and people involved, so cannot be broadly defined.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Mississippi on
Q: My mother is leaving me her house after she passes. The warranty deed right now shows her as the grantee and me as the

grantor. Is that not backwards?

Ellen S Deutsch Taylor
Ellen S Deutsch Taylor
answered on Apr 21, 2021

Sounds like she was the grantee when she bought the house. A new deed from her to you would have her as the grantor. Does she have a will, stating her intentions?

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Mississippi on
Q: My husband just died today of a overdose and he had a car would I get the car and how would I do that
Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Feb 25, 2021

You would need to change the title. See if your state has a small estate process for situations like yours. Short answer is yes.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Banking and Probate for Mississippi on
Q: Can stepson take entire savings in mine and now deceased husbands bank account

We had put my stepson on the account in the event something happened to us he would have access. My husband passed away suddenly and within a matter of days my stepson had taken entire amount and will not speak to me. Is there anything I can do to get my money back since he was on the account. I... Read more »

Nina Whitehurst
PREMIUM
Nina Whitehurst
answered on Feb 14, 2021

This is a classic case of do it yourself estate planning gone wrong. It might be theoretically possible for you to recover the money, but you will have to sue your stepson to get it back, and you will have the burden of proving that the money was yours and not his. You did not say how much money... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Intellectual Property, Probate and Real Estate Law for Mississippi on
Q: If A will hasn’t been probated can the estate / property be sold
Anthony M. Avery
PREMIUM
Anthony M. Avery
answered on Oct 6, 2020

Most decedents die intestate. As such their heirs-at-law take the real property at death, and the next-of-kin take the personal property. If a Will is not Probated it has no effect. A recorded Affidavit of Heirship should be the source of title for the Decedent's relatives. If a buyer... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Mississippi on
Q: a piece of property is left in the estate of a parent that is now deceased and split between the wife and 4 children.

If one of the children passes away before the property is split and they have a lien for medical bills, do they siblings inherit that debt or the children? and Do the children inherit that siblings portion of the property?

Anthony M. Avery
PREMIUM
Anthony M. Avery
answered on Jul 16, 2020

The possible medical care Lien is against the property, not the Heir's At Law. It is not their personal obligation, but could be executed against the land or the Estate of the Decedent who incurred the medical bills. And the children will take by representation of the deceased sibling. You... Read more »

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