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Mississippi Estate Planning Questions & Answers
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... View 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... View 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... View 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... View 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... View 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... View 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,... View 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
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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... View 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... View 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... View More

Nina Whitehurst
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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... View 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
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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... View 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
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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... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Mississippi on
Q: How can I legally purchase property that I have maintained for over 10 years?

The property is heir property and the owner would sell it, but believes all heirs would need to be involved(3 total). The owner has been the only heir involved at all with this property and has paid the taxes on it for at least 11 years. This piece of property joins to mine and I’ve maintained... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Jun 16, 2020

Hire a competent attorney to first conduct a title search. Then he needs to determine heirship and record it with an Affidavit of Heirship. Finally get a Deed executed by all Heirs At Law over to you. They may demand some monetary consideration.

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Estate Planning and Probate for Mississippi on
Q: My ex husband died and the title to his truck is still in my name. Do I have rights?

Ex husband died. Truck title in (his name OR my name). He did not change over the truck title. We divorced 5 yrs ago and he remarried 2 years ago. We have a 20 year old son. Is the truck mine or is my son 50% heir to the truck along with the new spouse? We did have PSA that stated he was given... View More

Randall R. Saxton
Randall R. Saxton
answered on Apr 21, 2020

Although a divorce decree can reassign the ownership of a vehicle, the decree does not invalidate the title. At a bare minimum, his one half interest in the vehicle is a probate asset. You should schedule a consultation with a local probate attorney.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Mississippi on
Q: Is it legal to withhold the death certificate from the beneficiary of a life insurance?

I have a family member who recently died and left a small $10k life insurance policy to a non-family member, who is not biologically related to the deceased. My family has received the death certificate, and the estate is currently in probate. My other family members are refusing to give the... View More

Randall R. Saxton
Randall R. Saxton
answered on Feb 18, 2020

In my opinion, if she is indeed listed as the beneficiary of the life insurance policy, she has a tangible interest, and should apply for her own certified death certificate, as the insurance company will issue the benefit directly to her, and life insurance proceeds with a named beneficiary pass... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Mississippi on
Q: In reference to my previous question

"If my husband dies while paying a secured loan, am I responsible for that loan. Can they take the collateral from me?":

I am not a signer on that loan and we do not live in a community property state. Much of the collateral is household goods; appliances. Are you saying that they... View More

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Jan 23, 2020

That is the nature of collateral, yes. The secured lender can take the collateral if the loan goes into default.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Probate and Social Security for Mississippi on
Q: I have a step sister who has my father's power of attorney and he has passed away. She is saying she is also incharge of

his estate. I have never seen his will or anything. She claims he has a lot of debt. She is wanting my social security # because she cashed his check for December the month he died. She states she needs that so they can take the funds out of the estate. Thank You Annette

Arthur Calderon
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Arthur Calderon
answered on Jan 12, 2020

The only way that she can legitimately be put in charge of the estate is if she already filed the paperwork with a chancery court and the court appointed her as the executrix over your father's estate.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Mississippi on
Q: My brother in law signed an affidavit that my husband had no wife to get my husband bank account and 401k.what can I do

My husband was retired military and we where having problems but was never divorced.

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Jan 8, 2020

That is fraud and theft and other things. Hire an attorney to pursue the claim against your brother in law.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Mississippi on
Q: My sister created a Durable Power of Attorney for the state of Mississippi on legalzoom for $15.00.

My mother did sign it and It was notarized, but never filed anywhere. At that time I think my mother had mild dementia. Now she has severe Alzheimer's. Does my sister need an affidavit from my mother's physicians as to incompetence? Is this a legal document, seeing that she did it at... View More

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Jan 4, 2020

It doesn’t need to be filed anywhere in order to be legal, but no attorney in this forum can give you an opinion regarding the legality of it without reviewing the document and engaging in a consultation regarding the circumstances of its execution. Also, whether a doctor’s opinion is needed... View More

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