Unfortunately you get what you pay for. A no cost will may not be very good. Fist of all, there are statutory requirements for determining if a will is valid. Secondly, you want to make sure your will accomplishes your goals. Spend the money for a quality will.

The estate would pay back whoever paid his funeral expenses as a first priority claim. So if she is repaid by the estate for the funeral, there would be no need for you to pay her a second time. And she would have to sue you on the verbal agreement to force you to pay. So it is unlikely you will... View More

A diagnosis alone might or might not be sufficient to determine that a person was not mentally competent to change a will. If a claim is made that the will is invalid, medical assessments would have to be obtained to document mental capacity, and the probate court would determine if the will... View More

Yes, this is commonly done by including a trust provision that causes the trust to be includable in the decedent's estate for tax purposes only.

Perhaps there is an unpaid funeral bill to be paid.

See Ohio Administrative Code 5160-3-16.5)H)(3)(c) "If funeral and/or burial expenses for a deceased resident have not been paid, and all the resident's resources other than the PNA have been exhausted, the resident's PNA... View More

The will is not valid. There is nothing you can do with it to make it valid. It is too late. If she has an earlier valid will that can be located, that will would control, and would be admitted to probate court to carry out her wishes in that will. If there is no earlier will, then her estate... View More

In Ohio, the trustee must act reasonably and in good faith when exercising a power that has an ascertainable standard, such as the trust you have. Here is the Ohio statute:

5808.14 Judicial standard of review for discretionary trusts.

(A) The judicial standard of review for... View More

An agent can reside in another state, and there can be separate agents. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local estate planning attorney who can advise on the proper forms to minimize future problems.

There are ways to accomplish this, but it really requires sitting down with an estate planning attorney who can review all the facts and goals, and then discuss options for accomplishing those goals, whether by a will, a trust, or some other arrangements. The Find a Lawyer tab can help find a... View More

Your question does not provide enough information. Why would your father take you to probate court?

An unsigned will is not valid. If the will treated her heirs equally, then you can open her probate estate without a will and her assets will be distributed according to the state statutes, which could be very similar to her unsigned will. You should contact a probate attorney in the county where... View More

If your mother's estate is probated after she passes away, then you are entitled to notice of the probate process. That said, your relatives need to know where you live so they can notify you. If you care about your mother, stay in contact with her.

You should contact a probate attorney in your area. You will most likely have to pay a retainer. If the Barclays account does not have significant value, it may not be worth the cost to open the probate estate.

Use the Find a Lawyer tab to contact a local probate attorney who does guardianships to review all the facts and advise you what you can do to try to obtain guardianship.

Use the Find a Lawyer tab to locate an estate planning attorney with experience in elder law issues, including Medicaid.

You should consult a local estate planning attorney to assist you with the process, who can review the trust and POA, and advise you how to do it properly. If you don't do it properly, it could cause you bigger problems later. Use the Find a Lawyer tab.

Your mother should retain a local estate planning attorney to review all the facts and advise her. If someone is prevent her from making a will, then other family members should assist mother in talking to an attorney.

Go online and look at forms for Summary Release or Relief from Administration for the county probate court where he was living. There are instructions with the forms online. If you can't figure it out, then use the Find a Lawyer tab and retain a local probate attorney to assist you for a few... View More

Nobody has to do anything at this point or pay any bills. But does the house have any value? If so, then a family member will have to investigate how the house was owned. If not joint ownership, and no right of survivorship or transfer on death instructions, then someone will have to file in the... View More

You can't force someone to make a will. You could make an appointment for an estate planning attorney to meet with the cousin and talk about the issues. If someone dies without a will, a relative can file to open a probate estate, be appointed administrator by the probate court, and then... View More