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Estate Planning Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Estate Planning and Tax Law for Arizona on
Q: Can a Trust decide its distributions aren’t community property even when taxed as non passive K1 income & filed jointly?

In the case of divorce - Trust 1, which has a clause that names the beneficiary as spouse A & states distributions are not community property, owns an S corp (an LLC). The S corp paid distributions to spouse A, which were claimed jointly as non passive income in a community property state (AZ).... Read more »

Ilene L McCauley
Ilene L McCauley
answered on May 25, 2022

Unfortunately, you are asking a very difficult question. The answers hinge on the documents currently in place as well as the status of the divorce. The attorney will need to see if there is premarital agreement in place. If so, that agreement may control. We also need to look at the S... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Oregon on
Q: If an investment account has the estate of the owner as the TOD beneficiary, will probate be avoided?
Theressa Hollis
Theressa Hollis
answered on May 25, 2022

No. If the estate is named as the beneficiary the financial institution will require a Personal Representative (the term for Executor in Oregon) to be appointed by the Court in order to receive the investment account balance.

If you wish to avoid probate you can name your beneficiaries...
Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Washington on
Q: I had a will, power of attorney, health directive, property directive - all of it - drawn up in 2008.

I now hear legislation requires all this be redone at additional fee of course. Is this accurate?

Nicole Betts
Nicole Betts
answered on May 25, 2022

Hi There,

I am always slightly concerned in dealing with dated documents. Particularly the Power of Attorney and Health Care Directive. The Uniform Power of Attorney Act came into effect in 2017 - as such, I often recommend that these documents be updated. However, of course, an attorney...
Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Immigration Law and Probate for California on
Q: If person died on May 1, 2022, by when must I file Petition for Probate, Form DE-111? Can I file it on Tuesday May 31?
Julie King
Julie King
answered on May 25, 2022

There is no set deadline by which to open probate, but filing sooner rather than later is always best because you need to gather a lot of information and things like bank statements are harder to get the longer you wait. So May 31st will be just fine. Best wishes!

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Family Law for Oregon on
Q: My bother passed away in Boston Mass. I talked with the funeral home and they said his wife makes the choices on the

She is mentally unstable can another family member change her decision

Theressa Hollis
Theressa Hollis
answered on May 25, 2022

I'm very sorry for your loss. Your question didn't completely come through but I'm guessing you're asking on controlling the disposition of your brother's body. Since he died in Massachusetts you should consult an attorney in that state. If his wife is unable to give... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for California on
Q: A small commercial building in CA is in a family trust. Can that be traded for rental homes?

In other words, the building is removed from the trust and traded for a rental house that is then placed in the trust in place of the bldg.

Julie King
Julie King
answered on May 24, 2022

I believe you want to do a 1031 exchange of property. [That's Internal Revenue Code Section 1031.] If that is accurate, whether the property is inside or outside a trust will not matter. Speak with your investment advisor, financial planner or CPA to determine if your properties qualify for... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Pennsylvania on
Q: In PA, if my sister and I live with my father and he passes away, can we keep living in the house?

Both my sister and I are over 18 oh, and my father passed away. We both have been living in the house helping take care of him. He told us that both my sister and I would be getting 50% of the house. We have not been able to locate a Will anywhere, and I know we are supposed to pay inheritance tax... Read more »

Michael Cherewka
Michael Cherewka
answered on May 24, 2022

There are too many unanswered questions right now to give you a specific answer in this type of forum, but you are fortunate that there are no mortgages or liens on the house. You should meet with an experienced estates attorney to assist you in opening an estate administration (since there is no... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for New Mexico on
Q: Can I legally sell my house to my POA? Can I legally sell my house if I have a will?
Nina Whitehurst
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Nina Whitehurst
answered on May 24, 2022

Absent very unusual circumstances, you can sell anything you own to anyone you want. And having a will does not prevent you from selling anything you own. However, these are very general answers to very general questions. Clearly you are concerned about or troubled by something. Follow your... Read more »

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Washington on
Q: My sister is dying very quickly and she wants to give her house to her son. She has no will. Is there something we can

have her sign real quick before she dies?

Keith Armstrong
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Keith Armstrong
answered on May 23, 2022

Yes, she can gift the house to her son with a Quit Claim Deed. She can also do a Transfer on Death Deed. Lastly, she can create a living trust with her son as beneficiary. All of these will avoid probate, but the Transfer on Death Deed gives you the most bang for the buck. I would seek an... Read more »

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Michigan on
Q: Can my sister-in-law contest my rights as a wife to get everything? Do we still need a will? Can she go to probate?

Does a wife automatically get everything if husband dies? House, property, money, etc?

Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
answered on May 23, 2022

Nothing is automatic except beneficiary designations and joint accounts. But yes, most people's estates do not exceed the spousal elective share and so substantially everything goes to the spouse. That is by design because the public policy behind that is that 1) we can safely presume that... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Louisiana on
Q: Can an exector withdraw money from the estate without permission from the judge in the state of LA

My brother is the excector of my Mom's estate and he has sold all of the household goods in order to pay his attorney to fight me in court, can he withdraw money from the estate without judge approval?

Randy Bryan Ligh
Randy Bryan Ligh
answered on May 23, 2022

Most likely yes, but a lot of it depends on the language in the Order which appointed him as executor. Also, you might be able to go to Court and context the disbursements-----contact a succession lawyer in your are and arrange a consult to specifically discuss your matter. Good luck.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Real Estate Law for Ohio on
Q: 45 yrs living & paying property tax in brothers house. Do I have a claim now that he died with deed in his name?

I have lived in family house about 30 years, maintained all of it, paid all taxes to date. My mom used priest many years ago to put house in me and my bro name when she died but house only went in his because of a nasty divorce I had when younger and I cannot find the priest or have paperwork. My... Read more »

Andrew Popp
Andrew Popp
answered on May 23, 2022

There is no short answer to this question. I highly recommend sitting down with an attorney to see if there are any avenue's you can take in trying to keep the house.

Best of luck.

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Estate Planning and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: How do I revoke or modify power of attorney? Must the current agent(s) sign or be notified of the new PoA terms?

I'm 23 years old, and my parents have power of attorney over me - I agreed to it at the time, they presented it in a way that seemed reasonable and I didn't realize THAT'S CRAZY. They have both the medical kind (HIPAA permission?) and durable PoA for non-medical stuff.

I... Read more »

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on May 22, 2022

You can revoke at any time in writing. Ideally, you simply create a new POA that revokes all prior POAs. You should send written notice to whomever is named agent under your POA being revoked. That way, if they attempt to act, they are doing so knowing their authority or revoked, which makes them... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Family Law for Indiana on
Q: My 89 year old father wants to get married to his 77 year old girlfriend who he has been dating for a year.

He now wants to include her in the will. He wants to make all the decisions on this and will not let his adult children help make this decision. He has some dementia, gets confused easily and should probably be in a nursing home. As of right now he had a will made out 7 years ago with me being the... Read more »

James A Hanson
James A Hanson
answered on May 22, 2022

Up front, it is important to remember that your father's property belongs to your father. He can give it to whomever he wants at any time.

With that said, the situation you describe does raise some red flags.

First, there is the issue of your father's capacity to make...
Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Florida on
Q: Do I need to set up a joint trust?

My mother and I (her son) live together in a house. We are both listed on the deed and mortgage. This is the only real asset that she has. We are reviewing our estate planning documents.

Do I need to bother setting up a joint trust? Without one, since we're both on the deed, I believe... Read more »

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on May 22, 2022

No, if title is in both of your names, and not joint title with right of survivorship (or something similar), should she predecease you, the property will not be solely in your name. Her estate would own half. Talk to an estate planning attorney.

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Ohio on
Q: My MIL died without a Will in Ohio. She owned her house out right. How can we transfer the title to her son?
Moshe Toron Esq
Moshe Toron Esq
answered on May 21, 2022

It needs to go through the probate court in Ohio.

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Probate for Michigan on
Q: Can my husband's sister contest a wife's rights to everything? Do I still need a will?
Trent Harris
Trent Harris
answered on May 20, 2022

By "a wife's rights to everything", I'm assuming you mean the surviving spouse's right to a share of an intestate estate. Generally speaking, if the husband dies leaving a probate estate and leaves a surviving spouse, the surviving spouse is entitled to the first $240,000... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: Where is a Original copy of a Will stored within the government facility

Family property left to children

Anthony M. Avery
PREMIUM
Anthony M. Avery
answered on May 19, 2022

The Testator can ask the Clerk & Master of the Chancery Court to hold onto the original Will until it is needed by the Executor for Probate. However it is not required and is rarely utilized. Usually you have to search for the Will amongst the Decedent's belongings. A copy of a... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Tax Law for Pennsylvania on
Q: If there is unclaimed death benefits from my grandparents who died 28 years ago is it hard to claim

I am the only child of their only child and they have no siblings left alive. My father who was their only child died 20 years ago. They had no will.

Mark Scoblionko
Mark Scoblionko
answered on May 19, 2022

Your question is not specific enough to answer. What are “death benefits?” Is this life insurance, real estate, etc.?

As a general proposition, a portion of estate assets would ordinarily go from one grandparent to the other and a portion would have gone to your dad, unless your...
Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Pennsylvania on
Q: What is the best way to have a great aunt give us her home and car in the event she passes away in Pennsylvania?

The great aunt has a will and the executor is her niece. Does she need to include this in her will? should we do a deed transfer now so we avoid the most taxes? what is the best route to avoid the 15% inheritance tax?

Michael Cherewka
Michael Cherewka
answered on May 19, 2022

If your great aunt wishes to continue owning the home and car until she dies then she would need to revise her Will to include both of these assets as specific bequests to you.

Your great aunt can gift the house and car to you now if she is comfortable with transferring title to you. As...
Read more »

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