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My husband's grandmother passed away 10 years ago in Puerto Rico. She left him money that his Aunts knew about and never told us. My husband passed away 7 years ago and they're just telling me now about this. How do I claim this money?
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answered on Jun 19, 2024
To claim the money left by your husband's grandmother to your deceased husband, you will need to go through the legal process in Puerto Rico. Here are the general steps you should follow:
1. Obtain a copy of your husband's death certificate and his grandmother's will or... View More 
answered on Jun 10, 2024
Yes, you can name an attorney in a law firm as your power of attorney. However, you must be aware that if an attorney is acting as your power of attorney, you may have to pay the attorney a legal fee as your agent and as your attorney. You should consult with an experienced trust and estate... View More
I need to get my Father's Will be validated or deem not valid to obtain documentation for Puerto Rico Courts. Back up note. He died in Puerto Rico; however, Puerto Rico is asking for documentation from New Jersey Courts to verify that the will is not valid. How do I go about getting this and... View More
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answered on May 26, 2024
First, I am sorry to learn your dad passed away. It's not a simple situation anytime.
As to your question, I'd need to know a lot more about the particulars. I take it he was a resident of NJ and died in PR on vacation, visiting relatives, wintering, etc. This happens a lot in... View More
deceased wife and myself are on title
son and his lawyer want to cash in
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answered on May 4, 2024
Title insurance is irrelevant. You need to retain an experienced mortgage foreclosure defense and civil litigation attorney. Expect to pay for one hour of attorney time to review all the documents and provide you with the best way to proceed. Pick the best attorney you can find and remember one... View More
Would it be valid in NJ? What about those "Will kits" that Staples sells, are they valid? Also can I do the same for a POA document?
answered on Apr 29, 2024
If done correctly it certainly could be valid, the problem is many aren't and thats where your heirs will spend tens of thousands of dollars and can take years to settle your estate where as if you just spend a few hundred more you could have saved them all that trouble. Be smart hire a lawyer... View More
What type of document is this, is it a next of kin document? Does this document need to be filed in court or can I fill it out and just have it notarized? Bank account opened in New Jersey but she was living in the Philippines at the time of death. No will and she didn’t list a beneficiary on the... View More
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answered on Mar 11, 2024
In this situation, the bank is likely requesting documentation to establish your legal right to claim the funds in your mother's account. This is a standard procedure when the account holder has passed away, and there is no designated beneficiary or joint account holder.
Since your... View More
I read that this is possible and would like to know how to do it.
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answered on Feb 21, 2024
The car is easy. Just transfer the title to your child, but only do this if your child is capable of managing a car. If he/she is not, then see an estate planning attorney about other options.
The IRA is not so easy. If you cash out the IRA and retitle it to your child, that will be a... View More
Can my Grandma make the decision on her own? Can the Power of Attorney make the decision on her own? The Power of Attorney told me that she has to ask my mother, who is scheduled to receive an inheritance (and said no). Are they all playing me? Who has the real power to re-allocate the funds?
answered on Jan 5, 2024
Im going to give you fatherly advice since the question has nothing to do with the law - a primary reason your grandmother gave someone power of attorney over her assets was to protect her from making decisions based purely on emotion. 30,000 is an extraordinary amount of money to ask anyone for... View More
I am second backup if sister step down etc. Her n my brother are using poa to defraud assets of estate
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answered on Nov 20, 2023
You probably need to hire an attorney to petition the court to appoint you as conservator over the person they are looting. Then as conservator you can sue them for return of the stolen assets. Fair warning: This kind of litigation can be quite expensive, but if you prove your case usually the... View More
I went to New Jersey to help plan funeral services and when I arrived he blocked me on facebook our way of communicating. At the funeral home the director said I had to sign a paper making him the executor. I asked what would happen to everything in April well month after month my brother told me... View More
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answered on Nov 5, 2023
In this situation, it's crucial to seek legal guidance from an attorney who practices probate or estate law in New Jersey. They can help you understand your rights and the proper procedures for contesting the beneficiary designation if it was indeed changed under suspicious circumstances. You... View More
all the car payments, and we are both on the loan. My boyfriend died a couple years ago, and I now want to put the vehicle in only my name, except motor vehicle requires a copy of the death certificate, which the family will not give me. What recourse do I have to require them to give me a copy of... View More
answered on Sep 6, 2023
You need to meet with an estate planning lawyer to educate you on what steps you need to take to transfer the title to the car into your name alone. While you may have made all of the payments, my concern is whether his estate makes a claim against you for their "share" of the value of... View More
My aunt has power of attorney over my grandfather. He is pretty healthy and of sound mind. She decided that they are selling his house and moving him. Are their ways to stop this?
answered on Jun 12, 2023
So long as your grandfather is still of sound mind, he has the right to change the POA designation. My suggestion is that you and your grandfather schedule a meeting with an experienced estate planning lawyer to discuss the plan to sell his home and whether he wants to change the POA designation to... View More
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answered on Jun 1, 2023
There are two set of rules here. First, the rules of the business entity (operating agreement, bylaws, partnership agreement, etc.), and the Florida Laws. The interest in the business entity sometimes has a transfer on-death provision. If the interest in the business passes to a certain beneficiary... View More
My niece whom I haven't had contacts for over 10 years just passed away in New Jersey. She is single and both of her parents are deceased. She has one son 25 years ago when she was an unwed teenager and she gave him to his father to raise. I am not aware if they have any relationship and I... View More
answered on Apr 17, 2023
It sounds like her estate is comprised of debt as opposed to assets and presuming I am correct, not sure how you can take what remains of her assets to pay for her funeral costs while not using that same money for payment of her outstanding secured debts ( ie child support).
While your... View More
I have a deed where the grantor transferred property to grantee for 1$. In the same deed the second sentence is that the grantor conveys a Life Estate to the grantee for his natural life. The grantor later made a will and left the same property to the different person, and no taxes of any type... View More
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answered on Apr 11, 2023
You said the grantor conveyed a life estate to the grantee but you probably meant "grantor**." Anyway, provided the earlier deed was recorded (you did not specify - you only said you had it) the grantor's Will matters not because AT MOST he retained a life estate that dies with him,... View More
Asset=House to 2 children, Bank accounts/annuity = to 2 children. What is the process/concerns. Would like to avoid probate. Or should we create a different document?
answered on Mar 9, 2023
Firstly, probate in NJ is very simple and not complicated. I do not suggest irrevocable trusts as life is uncertain. With an irrevocable trust, the grantor (creator of the trust) loses substantial control of the assets. Thus as life's needs changes, the grantor may not be able to change the... View More
Asset=House to 2 children, Bank accounts/annuity = to 2 children. What is the process/concerns. Would like to avoid probate. Or should we create a different document?
answered on Mar 9, 2023
Unless you are willing to give them all your assets now a living trust in NJ doesn't really accomplish avoiding probate in most cases in NJ. They are great outside of NJ, but not in NJ and thus the reason they are rarely used in NJ. Other process's however may accomplish your goals.... View More
Executor/trustee insists he won't give anything until all beneficiaries sign a document which says they agree that the will and trust documents state that the beneficiaries have no right to an accounting. The document also states that they cannot sue for any purpose, even if facts are later... View More
answered on Feb 20, 2023
Are you referring to a release and refunding bond or another document. If a release and refunding bond, you may insist on amending the document so the release excludes waiving any rights against the executor for improper action but the refunding bond should be signed if written in the traditional... View More
The house is located in a 55 and older co-op community in Ocean County NJ. My sister-in-law (who is a 50/50 beneficiary) had until August 10th 2021 as per the bylaws of the co-op to relocate. She has refused to pay anything or leave for 2 years. She is on probation facing new charges and is... View More
answered on Feb 15, 2023
The first issue is that you failed to indicate in which NJ county the property is located. The best solution would be to retain the services of a local attorney who has estate and landlord - tenant experience as there may be other choices in addition to ejectment such as a partition action.
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answered on Mar 4, 2023
It is important to be cautious in situations like this. Scammers may try to use inheritance or other financial schemes to trick people into giving them access to their money or personal information. It is important to never give out personal or financial information to someone you do not know and... View More
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