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answered on May 4, 2021

When a person dies leaving a surviving spouse and children, at least one of whom is not by the surviving spouse then the surviving spouse gets half and the decedent’s children ( all of them, not just you) share the other half equally.

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answered on Apr 29, 2021

The whole point of an IRREVOCABLE trust is you are giving up access to principal (and sometimes income as well), so no, YOU would not have access to the principal to use to pay nursing home expenses. However, depending on exactly how the trust is designed, you might have indirect access to the... View More

I recommend you have a probate attorney review this for you. Your attorney will need to see your grandparents' Trust. Very likely since your mother survived her parents but never cashed the distribution check her estate should now get the check (or a new one re-issued by the Trustee). Your... View More

Oregon does not recognize common law marriage. If you are not legally married or registered domestic partners then you must be included in the Will to receive anything with some exceptions:

You are a co-owner or payable-on-death/transfer-on-death beneficiary (for example, on a... View More

It's likely that you have been contacted by Medicaid (not Medicare) because your mother-in-law was receiving public benefits to pay for her long-term care. I recommend you schedule an appointment with an experienced probate attorney to review the claim and advise you.

Athene Annuity sold most of its life insurance business to Accordia in 2013 but continued to administer the business until Accordia took over in 2015. Maybe this was part of the confusion for the IRA you inherited? I'm not entirely sure of your question. I recommend you call the Customer... View More

It sounds like your father had a Revocable Living Trust. If your brother is named as Successor Trustee but has declined to do this job then your father's Trust likely names the next person who should act as Successor Trustee. If it doesn't name a second person then there should be... View More

A personal representative (or executor) is someone who handles the deceased person’s affairs. A will generally names a personal representative who, if willing to serve and otherwise qualified, will be approved by the probate court.

If your mother owned the real estate in her individual... View More

Powers of Attorney don't get "filed" in Oregon. Assuming the Power of Attorney has no expiration date, it remains in effect until the Principal revokes it or dies. Marrying does not automatically give you fiduciary authority over your husband.

If your husband would like to... View More

Yes, this is absolutely possible and good for you for doing your advance planning. You can start by looking at the Guardian Conservator Association of Oregon https://www.gcaoregon.org/practitioners. You can also hire an experienced estate planning attorney who will give you referrals to... View More

I am only licensed to practice in Oregon so I can't speak to Florida law but in general it is better for your children to inherit your property because they receive a stepped-up basis. This means when they inherit your house after your death their new basis in the property is your... View More

Yes, they are the same but your parents' Affidavit of Trust is no longer accurate because you are the Trustee. I agree that paying for an hour of time from an attorney will solve your problem, however, be sure to speak with an attorney who understand Medicaid Estate Recovery.

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answered on Jan 2, 2021

You don't have to rewrite your will every time, but you do need to write it once to refer to a personal property memorandum that you can then add to or change at any time and from time to time. Here is the statute:

https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/112.260

If your father added his wife to the Deed then the property is likely to go to her at his death. If he did not add her to the Deed then the property will go according to his Will. However, if he leaves his wife out completely then she has a right to claim a percentage of his estate (5% - 33%... View More

Your Will is valid in any state as long as your Will is valid in the state in which you signed it. I am unable to answer your question about your father and step-mother's house because I do not have enough information. I recommend you meet with a probate attorney for the answer to that question.

Do you mean the Land Use and Development Ordinance? Maybe this link will assist you? https://www.co.douglas.or.us/planning/tbl_cont.asp

Not sure if you also have an estate planning question?

I recommend you hire a probate attorney to look into the matter for you. You have not provided enough information to be able to answer your question. It's possible that there wasn't enough left after payment of the creditors and probate costs. Or that there were no assets and no... View More

For Oregon Death Certificates corrections for missing data or typographical errors for personal information on the death record are usually submitted by the funeral director or the informant listed on the death record in the year following date of death. The certifying physician (or medical... View More

A creditor can be appointed Personal Representative but they would first have to send notice to the people who have priority according to Oregon law. Usually this is the immediate family. An experienced probate attorney can help you with this.

Yes. If the deceased person has a valid Will then the person named in the Will as the Personal Representative (executor) has priority to act. Here is the priority statute for Oregon: https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/113.085