Was the property owned by your father, aunts and/or uncles as tenants in common? I presume so, or else the survivors would own the property and your father's share terminated.

The will may govern disposition of your father's interest in the property as a tenant in common, but... View More

The property valuation that is used is based upon the value of the home on the date of the decedent's death. To get the most accurate valuation for that date, you and your family should hire an appraiser—a licensed professional to give a scientific opinion on the home's value. Not a... View More

'Control' is such a non-specific word.

Can you PAY the back taxes to the County/State before then? Yes, but the Estate will retain the right to redeem meaning you won't get the property, you'll only get your money (plus interest) back.

Can you BUY the property... View More

It will depend on whether you can make the arrangement with the authorized representative of the estate of the former homeowner. I would not pay the back taxes until you do; otherwise, you will have just advanced money for the estate without any agreement that the estate will sell the property to... View More

Whether the estate underwent probate with a will or without one ("intestate") determines this. Most wills have a provision that allows reimbursement for court expenses and reasonable fees. Explicit statements of this provision are not uncommon. To be safe, you'll need the... View More

MUST you do so? No.

But it is still a good idea because it effectively reduces any statute of limitations to the ‘non-probate claims period’ which is drastically shorter than the general limits.

The wording is slightly different than the ‘probate’ notice but similar. I’d... View More

Nothing you state raises huge red flags. People with dementia often act just as you describe and loved ones often can't intervene easily to avoid unpleasant outcomes. That said, if you question the veracity of these claims, my FIRST step would be to ask 9-1-1 for verification of the call for... View More

Your remedies at law will depend upon how the deed is held between you and your step daughter. The 'magic' language in the deed controls how you may be able to proceed in circuit court for a declaratory action of partition. You also may have rights to financial contribution as well.... View More

Partition or partition sale is the name of the legal action to be instituted. However, I don't understand the state of title. Did you and your husband own the property as husband and wife? Did both of you sign the deed to add his daughter to the title? If you both owned it and only he... View More

They may not be able to change the beneficiary per se, but the Divorce Court and Probate Court both have 'equitable' powers and can "recover" funds paid legally but contrary to prior court orders.

This situation needs to be reviewed by a local probate / divorce attorney... View More

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answered on Mar 7, 2025

The Will devise is your source of title. When you are able to sell it during the Probate process, then your Deed will have the devise to you as the derivation of title in the legal description. It should specifically cite the will book, page number and docket number of the Court where it was... View More

You don't 'update' the deed. You probate the will and it looks like you will also need to probate his wife's estate as well. I strongly urge you to consult with a local (to the county where they lived) licensed probate attorney to walk through what steps may be necessary.... View More

You will need to provide the probate attorney with a copy of the deed. If the language on the deed is drafted properly, then the property interest may not need to be probated. Deeds contain language that has far-reaching consequences, so that is where most attorneys would start, by reviewing the... View More

In Michigan vehicles below a specific value ($60k) do not HAVE to go through probate, but if there is a disagreement, that is the best way to insure there won't be issues in the future.

Seek local legal representation to make sure you do this in the most economical and appropriate... View More

As a general rule in Michigan a spouse is not responsible for the sole debt of a deceased spouse. If the home was held in the entireties - as husband and wife, a creditor of the deceased spouse could not attach a lien to the home. Whether a creditor could make a claim against the probate estate,... View More

The surviving spouse will only be responsible for the credit card obligation if they were a co-signer. If the decedent's estate is probated, then the creditor will file a claim against the estate. Unless the personal representative's estate objects to the balance amount (which they... View More

The Personal Representative can settle and compromise claims in many circumstances but it is not a ’yes/no’ situation.

It is POSSIBLE to act in this way, but ONLY if it is in the ‘best interest of the estate’.

If you don’t already have an attorney, you need one to insure... View More

Something doesn’t ’add up’ here. If there was a trust there wouldn’t have been probate absent someone doing something wrong.

If the probate is closed you may need to reopen it but life insurance doesn’t usually go through probate at all unless there is a failure to name a... View More

Mr Soble is correct, however, if there are two witnesses it may not be necessary to be considered a 'holographic' will. Wills don't need to be notarized, just witnessed by two disinterested adults.

I do however suggest you should consult with a local probate attorney to... View More

Holographic wills are valid in Michigan provided that they are written in the decedent's handwriting and endorsed by the decedent. No witnesses are needed, but be prepared to be challenged in probate court. It will help you significantly if you can find the witnesses and take affidavits of... View More