Get free answers to your Estate Planning legal questions from lawyers in your area.
Taxes for a property of the estate has not been paid for over a year resulting in a tax sale being issued on the property. I have reached out to the counsel of the estate representative to inform them of the unpaid tax and tax sale notices multiple times and they have ignored my messages.... View More 
answered on Dec 7, 2021
This is not a family law question and should be answered / directed to an estate lawyer to guide you on your rights in addressing the obligations of those responsible for administration of the estate.
My mother passed away a few days ago, in her will she left me my home (my home is in her name) in a trust. She listed me as trustee and sole beneficiary. Does mean the home will be transferred to me right away or does it take a long period of time for probate?
answered on Nov 29, 2021
An Attorney would need to review the will to properly answer your question. That being said generally when a will is transferred to a trust you may only be the beneificiary not necessarily the owner to have the property put in your name.
My sister is currently Administratrix of my late mother’s estate and has already committed various breaches of fiduciary duty, including requesting the estate reimburse her for debt owed by the decedent she was liable to pay as power-of-attorney and attorney-in-fact to the decedent before her... View More
answered on Nov 17, 2021
You need to go over everything you just asked a question about with an attorney. I have seen a $400 home sell for $78,000 because of liens that couldn't be avoided so the new owner took on the liens. I have also see properties sell under market value because a hoarder lived in them, tenants... View More
I am the fiduciary for my late mothers estate. I have a Limited Letter of Administration for a lawsuit in regards to my mother (9/11). Now I getting calls from people asking if I am selling my mothers property, which is a house in the Bronx. I knew nothing of this until the calls. Now I need to... View More
answered on Nov 16, 2021
To begin contact a title agency and ask for a property search. As for personalty, check any checking accounts , review prior year tax returns, go through the mail, search pockets in clothes that are in her home, ask people who were familiar with her.
Family believes the life insurance should be part of the estate even thought it was left in my name snd not theirs.
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answered on Oct 7, 2021
As a general rule, life insurance proceeds payable to a named beneficiary are NOT included in the decedent's probate estate. The law presumes that the decedent meant what she said when she named you as the sole life insurance beneficiary. It is a very tough presumption to overcome. Your... View More
in the process of purchasing a new home. Mom is putting the down payment down, gifting to me. Condition is, she wants to be on the deed of the home so as to say, when she passes, her portion of the home will be willed to me and I will have majority ownership of the home. What issues might I run... View More
answered on Oct 4, 2021
A very easy solution that will eliminate many concerns for both you and your mother. Instead of being placed on the deed. She is given a mortgage in the face amount of the money she is lending you to buy the home. The mortgage has a safe harbor rate of interest payable once yearly, just the day... View More
I am the executor of my grandmother estate. My uncle hired a lawyer because he wants ownership of her home. His lawyer drew up documents towards me for court at which I also put in a court order as well. The question is, who gave that attorney permission to enter in the premises without my... View More
answered on Sep 3, 2021
In order to enter any premises, a person must either obtain permission from the occupant or a warrant isuued by a court.
She had a will which left me, as their only child, to be executor and recipient of everything she and my father owned. I have taken care of everything including taxes. My father had a pending court case of sorts and it appears he will receive funds as a result which I am told will go to his estate.... View More
My motherinlaw deeded her NJ house to Gerald (my husband) and his 1brother Eddy as a life estate. Her last Will and testament- dated the same day as her deed- states the house should be given to the Gerald, Ed AND the children of the other 2 brothers who passed away in 2012 and 2014. Does the... View More
answered on Aug 10, 2021
The deed is for a life estate. In normal situations, the life estate is vested in the people until they die, and then after they pass the property goes to who is named in the will. The will takes over after the life estate is over. The property could be sold and divided if Gerald and Eddy agree.
answered on Aug 9, 2021
You and he bought the property together and therefore you and he have to agree to permit one of you to buy out the other persons interest or to sell it and divide the proceeds from the sale. The alternative is that you / he retain lawyers and one of you will then file a partition claim to force the... View More
Can u pls interpret this for me? Particularly the ABSENCE of INTENTIONAL WRONGDOING”
answered on Aug 7, 2021
An attorney would need to read the whole will or trust to tell you what this means in the document its contained in, but it would appear to mean that the executor is not liable for what a past executor may have done. Again if you need to know what it truly means setup a consultation with a lawyer.... View More
answered on Jul 12, 2021
Check New Jersey Statutes Annotated NJSA3B1-1 et seq. You may access them on the Justia site.
Do I have rights regarding anything else?
answered on Jun 25, 2021
Yes, you may have certain rights. The palimony statute has changed in NJ. I would suggest you read it carefully.It is a bit confusing. The best thing to do is seek an attorney with experience to discuss this issue.
answered on Jun 23, 2021
It depends on what powers are granted to the deputy in the original document.
When a Will is created, is it filed anywhere so heirs can get a copy? There is a prior Will that her son took her to have drawn up, which he likely still has a copy of. Then her son took all of her life savings, putting her in financial ruin. So, she changed her Will after that with a different... View More
answered on Jun 15, 2021
A will is necessary for probate in order for an individual named as executor to qualify. Other wise the decedent is considered to have passed intestate. The Court will appoint an administrator. A bond, in an amount set by the Surrogate must be obtained. The Estate is then distributed in the manner... View More
answered on Jun 15, 2021
Contact the Surrogate’s Office of the county where the deceased person lived.
Family is searching for the latest Will. Nobody remembers the attorney's name to try to find her to get a copy of the Will. Can the lender call the loan due and/or foreclose on the house before the estate goes through probate? Can anyone else who lived in the house taking care of my... View More
answered on Jun 14, 2021
My best response is that you have raised many important issues that require extensive responses which are beyond the scope of the platform. The best thing to do is retain the services of an attorney who is familiar both with real estate law and probate law.
When they married her 2 children were grown and out of the house. They never lived with my father and nothing was ever in their mothers name. There was a joint account that only my dads money went into and the bills were paid from and she had her own account that her money went in and she spent. We... View More
answered on Jun 4, 2021
Contact the holder of the note (debt) and ask. That being said many lawyers specialize in debt reduction and generally have a much better chance of success then you, but of course a lawyer is not free and will cost money
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