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Tennessee Estate Planning Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: My husband died on Jan. 3 2024, and his estate was set up with TOD's on all financial holdings except his bank account.

How can I disperse the funds without probate.

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answered on Dec 14, 2024

If the bank account was in both names, then just present a death certificate and they will take his name off the account and leave your name on. If the bank account was in your husband's name alone and the balance is under $50,000, then you can collect it with a small estate petition. If the... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Estate Planning and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: I live in TN. Sister kept my portion of 1 quarter of my stiil living dads house, one of them at that time 2013.

He got temporarily remarried in late 2012?. Said he wanted me to have one fourth of the sell of his cabin and he was letting my half sisters be over the sell. The girls sold it in 2013 for 168k and they never gave me a penny. He's still alive and recently been put into hospice care in FL.... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Dec 2, 2024

I know of no cause of action that has a long enough statute of limitations for suits against any of them. If you are an heir to any real property then you can sue for partition. Search titles to see if anything still in the family. Sometimes conveyances are made which forgets about some of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: My uncle passed away 11/21. He left his estate to my grandmother and her disabled daughter. His wife was the executor

His wife decided to sue for half of estate.My nana passed away 02/22 while in the nursing home. TennCare immediately put a lean on my uncles estate. Judge ordered all assets to be auctioned. My aunt, whom is disabled still resided in the home. How can TennCare sieze property if a disabled person... View More

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answered on Nov 9, 2024

Daughter was not an owner of the property, so TennCare Lien against Uncle had priority against any heir of his. The Estate was the place to fight the Lien. Everything is apparently over now. Probating the Estate was the mistake, as Spouse could have got a year's support, third of... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: Clamming land that was quite clammed deeded and now person's are dead

A portion of property from original property was quite claim deeded to persons that are now dead . How to go about getting that piece of land back

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answered on Oct 25, 2024

There are too many facts missing from your narrative to answer your question in any definitive way. As to each name on the deed an attorney would need to know if the person died testate or intestate, where he or she died, whether the estate was ever probated and where, if the death was recent... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: What is a "non statutory, non grantor,irrevocable, discretionary,complex, spendthrift" trust? Social media scams?

I'm seeing a lot of social media "gurus" tout this specific language when referring to set up a trust. They say a lawyer cannot set these up and the only way to sue the trust is in the supreme Court.

It's very obvious that this is a scam but without a legal background I... View More

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answered on Sep 29, 2024

The IRS released a memo on August 9, 2023, discussing non-grantor, irrevocable, complex, discretionary, spendthrift trust.

The memo was limited to rebutting the promoters misinterpretation of IRC 643 on the avoidance of income tax. The link to the memo is below....
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Health Care Law and Elder Law for Tennessee on
Q: My MIL lives with me in TN and has property in NC that is not habitable. Is property protected asset with medicaid

She is in need of long term facility care.

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answered on Sep 19, 2024

If the property your MIL owns in NC is in her name, it would be a countable asset for Medicaid qualification purposes and would most likely be disqualifying. However, there are techniques that can be used to obtain Medicaid qualification while still owning the property and trying to sell it. An... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Probate and Criminal Law for Tennessee on
Q: My step son gave my horse away, I had been given me a pair of Belgian mares to me for Christmas. Can I get him for horse

theft. My husband sent numerous emails to people that he knew telling them about this. With a picture of me and the horses. During and after my husbands death, the step son has repeatedly sold off everything left to me in the will. He has since given my horse to someone else. I had tried moving... View More

Diedre Wachbrit Braverman
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answered on Aug 2, 2024

You need to file a police report for the theft of your horse and the tracking device he put on your vehicle. Tell the cops everything he has done to harass you. You may get a restraining order. He may go to jail.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: My mom died two years ago and the 1.5M stepfather took everything, The attorney never tried to contact my brother or I.

My mom own half of the house too. Everything was taken and nothing to her side of the family.

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answered on Aug 1, 2024

What you state as fact may not be the case. If the accounts were joint, the monies are his. If the house was tenants by the entirety, then the survivor owns it. You might hire a TN attorney to look into it if you really think the stepfather stole properties.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Family Law for Tennessee on
Q: I need to know what I can do for a non relative undergoing conservatorship hearing

She is very capable of paying her bills, she pays all her bills herself with no help, she has investments and everything. They are saying she is incapable and already undergone the test, and been appointed a conservator but the hearing is the 28th. I'm not related, and her closest relatives... View More

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on May 27, 2024

You can call the court where the case is being heard and ask who has been appointed to serve as attorney ad litem to the respondent, or who has appeared as the respondent's private attorney (this is uncommon but theoretically possible). Then contact that attorney to offer your testimony.

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: In a valid 'Last Will & Testament' w/ a 'real property' that has a direct beneficiary listed, can this by-pass Probate ?

In a valid 'Last Will and Testament' there is two real properties listed to be be inherited each by name as a direct

beneficiaries to each respective property, does this still have to go thru Probate Court since the valid will clearly list each 'real property' with a... View More

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answered on May 16, 2024

The only answers that can be given to your questions are "maybe" and "sort of". There is no avoiding probate court when the decedent had a will that devised real property. The only question is which kind of probate. It might be a very simple court process or it might be a... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: Can someone name 2 persons (daughters) as "co-attorneys in fact" in their Durable Power of Attorney document?

My 92 year old father is updating his estate planning documents after the passing of my mother. He wants to appoint both myself and my sister as co-attorneys in fact since we are both helping him with his financial and medical affairs. He doesn't want to name one person as primary and the... View More

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answered on May 7, 2024

There is no law that prohibits co-attorneys in fact. However, conventional wisdom is to avoid it because having co-attorneys in fact can become unwieldy, especially if they get sideways with each other. If they must act together and they are unable to work together then the effective result is... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: Does the estate pay for the personal representatives lawyer.

For a will dispute to discredit a beneficiary.

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on May 2, 2024

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. There is no exact law. I am not sure what discrediting a beneficiary is, but that is not a Will Contest. You probably need to retain an attorney to represent you as you are obviously confused as to what is going on.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: I live in Davidson County Nashville TN and tried to submit an estate claim. How can I get an extension?

The employees at the county clerk's office informed me that the case is pending and there is not a personal representative assigned. Therefore, they do not have anyone to receive the documents for the claim. The one-year deadline is June 25, 2024 for the decedent. I need to request an extension.

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answered on May 1, 2024

You might consider making a Motion to appoint yourself as administrator due to being a creditor. A lawyer will be necessary, and probably a Bond. Then you file the claim against the Estate. The claim may not be worth it, but this happens alot when clients die with a pending case.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: Division of inheritance when one or more children die. Spousal and grands concern. Following is more in depth question.

Three children. All married. Want to put the house in all three of their names. However if one child dies, I want the remaining two to get the third chip’s portion to divide. I do Not want my child’s widower Or even my grandchildren to inherit that portion. Strictly want my children to have... View More

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answered on Apr 18, 2024

You could convey to each of the three kids as joint tenants with right of survivorship. Rarely do I suggest that estate but it appears to meet your wishes. However during the three, then two childs' lives somebody has to pay taxes, insurance and possibly a deed of trust note. Also the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Elder Law for Tennessee on
Q: My parents purchased a trust in Tennessee, the person who sold it was not an attorney and the fee went to the non attor

the fee was paid to a non legal office , the attorney drafted the trust and everything looks good, but is it legal for a non attorney to sell a trust and the money paid to the non attorney?

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answered on Apr 17, 2024

Trusts are not bought and sold. Often a trustee will sell trust corpus in parts or whole. Either you misunderstand what has occurred, or there is a fraud involved. You might be talking about the purchase of a Deed of Trust and the Note it secures, which is the transfer of a mortgage... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Real Estate Law, Civil Rights and Criminal Law for Tennessee on
Q: My dad at 65, on 1/25/23 has $1,000,000 secured bond with a conditional release order. Wat happens to 130acers he owns?

We are not in contact, though I am his daughter. Last I knew he owned 130 acres and possibly some other properties. He’s Not married, me and my sister only kin .been in jail for over a year now, they won’t give me much info. Still No date to be sentenced, all I know is, it’s gonna be a grand... View More

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answered on Mar 11, 2024

Since it is a secured high bail, he may have made a property bond hypothecating the 130 acres. If so, the Clerk will foreclose the Deed of Trust if he breaches Bond Conditions. He should have an attorney that you can ask for sure, or search his title in Claiborne County. After conclusion of... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Real Estate Law, Civil Rights and Criminal Law for Tennessee on
Q: My dad at 65, on 1/25/23 has $1,000,000 secured bond with a conditional release order. Wat happens to 130acers he owns?

We are not in contact, though I am his daughter. Last I knew he owned 130 acres and possibly some other properties. He’s Not married, me and my sister only kin .been in jail for over a year now, they won’t give me much info. Still No date to be sentenced, all I know is, it’s gonna be a grand... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 11, 2024

In a situation like this, there are several factors to consider regarding your father's assets and your potential rights to them. Here are some steps you can take to gather more information:

1. Contact the county assessor's office: You can reach out to the Claiborne County...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Civil Litigation and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: Will Attorneys construe what a litigate is trying to say?

I intend to stop a partition by sale. I have my memorandum of points and authorities in video form, that were court recorded from previous proceedings. I discovered multiple oversights therefore I would like a motion to stay pending appeal. I seek an Attorney that will listen to what I am saying,... View More

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answered on Mar 6, 2024

Sale for Partition Actions are generally a statutory right. There are sometimes defenses, but usually only comprise surcharges amongst various parties against their share of the net common fund. You will need to file a written pleading and an interlocutory appeal will almost surely be futile.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: Does my secondary Executor have to be a "same state" resident? [TN] Should I file a Codicil?

My will states my husband as Executor, with my son as secondary.

With my son being a non-resident, should I change my Executor directives?

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answered on Feb 21, 2024

There is a registration process with the Secretary of State for non-TN personal representatives. However the Will has no effect until testator dies and it is filed for Probate. If you want to change something, then execute a new Will and destroy the present one. Codicils can impute contests.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: How do heirs handle a petitioner to be the executor, who has made moves against the estate?

Our uncle was rushed to the hospital nearly unconscience. A cousin realized he no longer had access to the uncle's home and changed the locks. The uncle died weeks later. The cousin cleaned out the uncle's home ( heirs didn't receive any itemized account of what was in the... View More

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answered on Feb 5, 2024

Apparently he has already been appointed administrator. Hire a TN attorney to represent one or more heirs /next of kin. It appears that you are very late getting involved. Heirs do not get a right of refusal, but you may oppose the sale as the heirs own it. Apparently he is claiming it... View More

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