If a house is transfer from my father to my father and sibling as joint tenants with rights of survivorship, does a will giving the house to myself and my other siblings become void? Even if done at the same time or after the deed? Does she automatically get the house no matter what the will says... Read more »

answered on Mar 22, 2023
A Will, once admitted to probate, and surviving any challenges to validity, distributes assets, and pays debts, existing as of the date of death.
If, prior to death, the testator transfers property to others, then that transfer, assuming it is not invalid, diminishes what is owned at death.... Read more »
I know a provision in the Will can request an SNT for the benefit of a disabled child. Are SNTs created and/or funded after the death of the grantor(s)? It’s my understanding that one should not leave assets directly to a disabled child, so they don’t lose their government benefits. If a trust... Read more »

answered on Mar 19, 2023
a Special Needs Trust can be created either in a Will, in which case it is not funded until the death of the Grantor, or can be created during the lifetime of the Grantor, in which case it is usually funded (at least partially) when created, and additional funds can be added during the lifetime of... Read more »
Since it’s technically not probate property as there were already designated beneficiaries, does this require court approval or does a family settlement agreement suffice?

answered on Mar 15, 2023
While a family settlement agreement always seems like a good idea in probate/post-death matters, with the facts provided, I doubt that one is even necessary. The two named CD beneficiaries are free to share/dispose of their distributions however they like. No court approval seems necessary, on... Read more »

answered on Mar 9, 2023
The beneficiaries are those who benefit from current or future distributions from the Trust.
The Trustee is the one charged by the Trust documents with managing the assets, seeing to all administrative obligations (tax returns, etc.), and making distributions, all in accordance with the... Read more »

answered on Feb 15, 2023
Directly, no, unless one or more of the heirs has signed a guarantee with the provider(s) of health care for the deceased.
An argument may be made by the creditor, however, for heir-liability, in the absence of a guaranty, if any of the heirs claimed the decedent as a dependent during life.... Read more »
I'm the estate administrator

answered on Feb 13, 2023
The answer depends on the reason you deposited those funds. If the reason was just to open the account or maintain a minimum balance to avoid fees, then yes. If it was for some other reason, then the answer is you should ask your probate attorney.
She is listed as 1 of the 5 to receive money. Its her 2 brothers and 2 of her sisters kids because their mom died. Would i get what my mother was being left? I am the only child she had. The woman said she would check because of a form that has to be filled out. My mom's sister is deceased and... Read more »

answered on Feb 6, 2023
Whether your mother is a distributee of the uncle's will depends upon how the uncle's will reads. It's common for Wills to include alternate provisions for named heirs who predecease the testator, and your great-uncle's will may well redirect the bequest to your mother when she... Read more »
The specified amount was the same for my 2 siblings and 2 charities . I live in nj but the will is coming from pa

answered on Feb 3, 2023
There is not enough information in your question to give you a definite answer, but if the total estate is not large enough to pay 100% of the specific bequests to you and your siblings and the charities, then yes you can receive less than 100% of the specific bequest. However, typically all of... Read more »
He has real estate as well as our house in his name only, and my mom wants her name put on the property as well. How can they go about switching ownership legally from just him to both of them, so that her name can also be on the deed?

answered on Jan 30, 2023
Easy to transfer title ownership.
Your father can sign a deed from himself to both his wife and him, and probably as joint tenants, with right of survivorship so that when one dies, the other owns the entire property automatically. He then records the deed. There will be a fee for that by... Read more »
Taken me off that list now I did not sign any paperwork I did not know about this till until today and this was done last week do I have any legal right because he did this without my knowledge or my signature or anything I just want advice on this thank you very much. Just wanted to add in... Read more »

answered on Jan 24, 2023
Your friend has every right to change his identification of "next of kin" with the bank any time he wants and your signature is not required.
My oldest brother is having serious health problems that could possibly be fatal. He has incurred some medical debt due to having no health insurance. If he signs over his 5/8 share of the property to the rest of us, can we avoid paying his medical bills with the estate if he should pass away?

answered on Jan 11, 2023
PA has a "fraudulent transfer" statute, to defeat the give-away of assets by a debtor or soon-to-be debtor intending to make himself "judgment proof". The reach-back period to recapture transfers of property for insufficient consideration is four years.
You don't... Read more »
Father passed away in 2017. I was named the sole executor and beneficiary in his will. The will explicitly outlined this property as belonging to him and being left to me in the case of his death. Suddenly a silent business partner that walked away four years ago exerts that he is half owner of the... Read more »

answered on Dec 2, 2022
Dear Executor, without more details it is difficult to give you an answer as to what recourse you may have. That aside you are the Executor which means that you step into your Father's shoes regarding the disposition of his assets. The attorney that represented the Estate should have... Read more »
document in order to collect funds but I don't know exactly what I need. My mom did not own a home or have any assets can someone give me a clear answer on what I need to do and please talk in layman's terms so I can understand please.

answered on Oct 31, 2022
Since your mother had a 401k plan, she should have designated you as beneficiary (or one of several beneficiaries) to receive the account. If she did not designate at least one beneficiary, then your mother died Intestate (without a will) and Fidelity is describing a Small Estates Petition in... Read more »
I don't know the document I need

answered on Oct 26, 2022
You haven't provided all the necessary information, e.g., where is the probate proceeding in your mom's case, and are you the named and acting Executor under the will, and has the will been accepted/admitted into probate?
If you are the named Executor, you can procure Letters... Read more »
the wedding. But the lawyer won't let me do. He scheduled about week after her wedding. I am still not signed yet.
I worry what make a difference. I her parter has a will and already signed or his own money.
I would like to know what makes difference.
Thank you

answered on Oct 20, 2022
There is a concept in marital law about "separate property of each spouse, meaning property acquired by each prior to the marriage, or by will or gift after the marriage.
A will transfers no property until the death of the testator, and until then, can always be changed so long as the... Read more »

answered on Sep 28, 2022
The short answer is no. The house must pass through the estate administration. The executor must first ensure that your grandfather's debts, if any are addressed, that the administrative expenses of the estate are paid, and the required inheritance tax and any other tax obligations that may... Read more »
Here are the details. Sister and I inherited house from father (no mortgage or liens), no will, we started probate, we payed the inheritance tax, we got a new deed created with both our names on it, and we agreed that we both were going to continue living in the house for the next year or 2, but we... Read more »

answered on Sep 22, 2022
If that "new deed" to both of you has been executed and recorded, then the property is no longer part of the probate estate.
If the two of you are unable to come to some agreement about what to do with the property, either one of you can file a partition action in court, that... Read more »
My Dad never updated his will but he left everything to his girlfriend and she said she is going to distribute everything between her and the 3 children evenly. Wondering about taxes and if I should get an attorney to make sure it’s done fairly. 350k+ in assets and investments mostly... Read more »

answered on Aug 14, 2022
Not sure how to read your question, but if you mean by "never updated his will" that your dad DID have a will and his girlfriend received everything under the will, then you will definitely want to meet with a PA estate attorney. if the will is probated and the girlfriend does not file... Read more »
We Plan on living in the house for at least the next 2 years. The recorder of deeds aid that we need to get a new deed created and that any title company can do it. About how much does this whole process cost? I know there is an $83 recording fee. And what is required or needed to create a new... Read more »

answered on Aug 11, 2022
You indicate that you inherited the house. How you inherited it will determine if the process is simple or a bit more complicated. If your father's Deed was joint deed with you and your sister (Joint with Right of Survivorship) it may be as simple as filing a PA Inheritance Tax Return to pay... Read more »

answered on Aug 5, 2022
If by "listed" you mean that you have signed a Signature Card with the bank, then you currently have the power to write checks/make withdrawals.
However, if you are listed as a "joint, with right of survivorship", and you pass before the other on the account, your... Read more »
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