Pennsylvania Probate Questions & Answers
Q: Changing deed rights?
I am looking for information regarding the removal of a statement in my deed that my grandmother (Grantor) would now like to have removed. The following is what she is wishing to have removed. "Reserving unto the Grantor a life estate in the within described property." This deed was done in... Read more »
The actual process of removing the life estate is fairly simple (for an experienced real estate attorney, anyway), but it should not be done without legal advise as to income tax, property tax and other implications, such as the effect this might have on Medicaid pre-planning.
Q: Mom just passed away. Left me and siblings each 1/3 of house. Oldest brother moved his g/f in, how do I get her out?
I am the youngest of us 3, and I am named the Executrix in my moms will. I can't meet with an Estate Attorney until August 13 and found out my brother moved his girlfriend into my moms house with him. (She has her own key) He thinks he is owed everything and has lived there scott free for 7... Read more »
This is a fairly common scenario and the answer is always the same. First, you need to hire a probate attorney to assist you with getting the house retitled in the names of the three heirs. Discuss this with your attorney, but as executor, you may have the duty to eject your brother and his... Read more »
Q: Found a will and Testament, drafted in Jan 2010, and decenant passed may 2010. I'm listed to receive half
My guardian passed away in 2010. I never knew or saw a will, and I was yet a young child. Now, I was cleaning out my home and I found the will. I was supposed to get half the house, half the car, half the funds, everything. I received nothing. I'm now 23 and found out my biological father... Read more »
... Hello ...
... Visit the Register of Wills in Philadelphia and ask to see the file ... It will give you a plethora of information - and you can start from there ...
... Once you have that information, I would suggest you consult with an experience probate and estates attorney to... Read more »
Q: Questions about ownership of a house
We have a house that was transferred from my grandparents. The deed reads as:
(Dad's name), a married individual, (my name) a single individual, (brother's name), a single individual, as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not tenants in common. (herein called "Grantees")... Read more »
JTWROS means whoever survives owns--it isn't something that an estate gets. So you are the owner. 2014/7 deals with a situation where the property isn't titles the way this was.
Q: I am looking at being revoked of my probation for smokong marijuana. What exactly does that mean
And what options do i have to not lose years of my life over this? I have completed everything that probation has asked of me. I have nothing but paying my fines and showing up left as a criteria. I stopped smoking successfully before this time has been harder for me and has taken longer than last... Read more »
I'm not hearing why they think you did. Assuming you didn't tell them you did, it may be from a bad urine screen? You have a right to know why. Suggest you contact an attorney. They shouldn't be bouncing you for just that.
Q: Pa. Father dies during divorce decree (final order 2008) cause has been established more than two years separated
Legal division of assists. Father gets homestead he dies 30 days before order is distributed. Mother is benefactor of his will, she is informed in 2010 hearing that she cannot inherit or take elective share due to final divorce decree. Mother dies in 2015 father died 2008. C3 children get fathers... Read more »
..."Executor comes along in 2016 for mother’s estate claiming owner ship of fathers house lower court gives it to them." The house would go to mothers ..."real or residual remaining"....
Q: What are the procedures for a West Va. estate to transfer the interest in Pennsylvania real estate to WV beneficiary?
Decedent has a 1/3 undivided interest in 22.86 acres located in Mercer County.
The estate has to transfer the deed to the beneficiary
Q: Is it typical for an attorney to charge for managing an estate as well as doing litigation for asbestos claims ?
Both of my parents are deceased but we still get some awards from asbestos litigation. These funds are all the estate they had. The attorney wants to get his share from the litigation and then charge an additional 9% to manage each estate. The lawyer is in Baltimore.
yes that is the practice
Q: When does an inheritance have to be received in Pennsylvania?
What is the longest time...
You might want to try again with this question, giving just a bit more information. Are you asking how long you have to wait before you receive something you inherited? That would depend on quite a few factors, such as what it is, is it being divided among other heirs, is it in a form that would... Read more »
Q: My mother passed while she was on medicaid. All she had were 2 small insurance policies ( 5k per). Do I need to probate
She resided in PA. She had no beneficiaries listed on the insurance policies. Should I probate, not probate and collect the monies as her sole heir, or just sign the monies over to the Pennsylvania for estate recovery? The insurance company stated that if I did not probate her estate that they... Read more »
The insurance policy usually names a benificiary. Generally you do not probate when the only assets are insurance policies.
Q: My gram passed away, she left me some money. I lent that money to my mom, she spent it all, how can I get it back?
I lent my mom the money about two years ago, When I asked her for it back she said that she spent the remaining $25,000 last week, $25,000 is all I was asking her give back to me. The original total my gram left me was $37,000. She is now refusing to pay me back. How can I get back the money my... Read more »
You may have to sue your mother in civil court -- although if she has no money in which to satisfy any civil judgment against her, all you'll be left with is the judgment paper itself at the end of the day. Perhaps she'd be willing to enter into some kind of repayment plan?
Best of luck to... Read more »
Q: my late husbands, ex wife is still named beneficiary to his psers pension. do I have any right to any of that?
their daughter took my copy of their, now closed divorce agreement, and refuses to give it back.
Highly doubtful. If you were to receive any portion of his pension, that would've been accomplished during your divorce proceedings -- and by something known as a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO, pronounced "quad-dro" by family law practitioners). If that wasn't done then, you most... Read more »
Q: Can I move out of state on unsupervised probation? Pennsylvania
I’m on unsupervised probation in the state of Pennsylvania for 1-23 months and my fines will be paid by the end of the week. The conditions allow me to “travel” out of state freely. It also says to notify my probation officer if my address changes. I plan on talking to him tomorrow about... Read more »
Do talk to your P.O. -- he'll know what your local jurisdiction can do (and not do) about you moving away and/or transferring your probation to New York. I think you'll have little chance to terminate your probation early at this point, however. Maybe serve a year of your probation first, and... Read more »
Q: Hi.. I have an estate and special needs trust question as the bengiciery. Estate is in Pittsburgh PA
My father was a liver transplant patient and he was also my grandma's care taker whom he lived with. I believe it was 2008 my grandma became very ill and we thought we may loose her so in an effort to save my dad from any issues with his disability/SSI he hired an attorney to draft a special needs... Read more »
I would need to read both wills and the trust to answer your question.
Q: mom never probated my grandma's will for 14 years...what happens now? can we do it now and what is the possible penalty?
You can probate the will. Any tax or penalty will depend on what the value of the assets
Q: One of my sisters was named as the executor of my mother’s will.
That sister opened a wrongful death suit against the nursing home my mother died in. From attorney answers online I was told that the settlement is supposed to be split up between all my mothers children. No one is in contact with the sister who opened the case and her children have said that she... Read more »
According to Section 8301 of the Pennsylvania Wrongful Death Act, the wrongful death action seeks to compensate a decedent’s loved ones for the death of the decedent when that death was caused by the negligence, unlawful violence, neglect, or wrongful act of another. Traditionally, wrongful death... Read more »
Q: My dad died last week his family in new york or puerto rico doesnt want to help in expenses but wat i find wierd is they
Want copies of death certificate 2 of them but someone said he inharrited something from his parents that die but they not telling me for wat they need it i should know i am his only daughter they lived in salinas puerto rico
It's really not possible o give you much help online. I suggest that you meet with an estate and probate attorney in your area and explain the situation. The attorney should know what steps you should take.
Q: What documents are used to relinquish trusteeship of my deceased mother's trust to my siblings. The trust allows this .
You need a lawyer to examine the trust instrument and help you. If there is no court order associated with the trust, in all likelihood, you simply need a letter "to whom it may concern," indicating that immediately resign as trustee in favor of your names siblings. You should have your signature... Read more »
Q: I’m on ARD and I wanted to know if I’m able to purchase a firearm since I just turned 21.
The only charges were possession of paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. It wasn’t a DUI or anything
It depends on what your underlying criminal charges are. You should consult with a criminal defense attorney to further discuss -- feel free to contact me offsite if you like.
Honestly, the safest bet is to wait until you've completed ARD and had your record expunged -- but depending on... Read more »
Q: Is the family exemption on rev-1511 funds that the claimant should receive or is something else i do not understand.
... hello ...
I believe you are referencing Rev-1500, the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Return ... they are funds that are paid from the Estate to the applicable person ...
... Good luck ...
John
John B, Whalen, Jr., J.D., LL.M. is an AV Peer Review Rated Preeminent... Read more »
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