The bills can't be paid. You need to file a petition in the probate court to be appointed the estate representative. The appointed estate representative will have the authority to access the decedent's account and pay any bills that are owed.
No. Ownership of a a joint account passes automatically to the surviving joint owner unless it can be proven that the account was set up as joint for purposes of convenience only by the decedent.
A check made payable to the estate of a deceased person can be a problem. Legally, it must be cashed by the court appointed estate representative, i.e., the executor or administrator. If there is no other property owned by the decedent and no probate was filed, and if the decedent owned a joint bank account with another person, the bank may allow the check to be deposited in that account. However, if that doesn't work then a probate will need to be filed to establish the identity of the person who can legally cash the check.
When you were appointed the executor the court issued "Letters Testamentary" in your name. That is your legal authority to represent the estate and sign any checks made payable to the estate or to the decedent. You should bring a copy to the bank where the decedent had their account and speak to the manager about cashing the check. The bank may put a hold on the funds until the check clears. Once you are certain there will be no more checks issued to the estate you can then close the account. If the decedent had no bank account then you should seek advice from the attorney who is handling the estate. If you do not have "letters Testamentary" then you are not the duly appointed executor and have no right nor authority to cash the check.
No. That property was no longer owned by the decedent if it was sold for unpaid property taxes.No. That property was no longer owned by the decedent if it was sold for unpaid property taxes.No. That property was no longer owned by the decedent if it was sold for unpaid property taxes.No. That property was no longer owned by the decedent if it was sold for unpaid property taxes.
If the account was in the name of the decedent only, the money in the account becomes part of the decedent's estate which is then distributed according to the will.
It depends on whether the executor has been appointed by the court and if the account was a joint account with the decedent and his partner.If the executor has been duly appointed they can access accounts solely owned by the decedent. That's their job.If the account is a joint account, it isn't a probate asset and the executor has no control over it. It belongs to the surviving joint owner.
A will can be overridden by a newer will that explicitly revokes the previous one. Additionally, certain legal actions or court decisions, such as marriage or divorce, can also impact the validity of a will. In cases where a will is found to be invalid due to lack of capacity, undue influence, or fraud, it may also be overridden.
The bills can't be paid. You need to file a petition in the probate court to be appointed the estate representative. The appointed estate representative will have the authority to access the decedent's account and pay any bills that are owed.
Get StartedOne of the executor's responsibilities in probating a decedent's estate is that of gathering the decedent's assets. The executor must collect and inventory the decedent's assets that are subject to probate. Tasks involved in gathering the decedent's assets include reviewing records to identify all of the decedent's assets; determining which assets are subject to probate; taking physical custody of probate assets; valuing the assets; and filing an inventory listing with the probate court.One of the most common assets owned by a decedent is an account at a bank or other financial institution, such as a credit union. The decedent may own a variety of different types of accounts held by a financial institution. For example, a decedent may own checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, or IRA (Individual Retirement Account) accounts to name a few of the more common types of accounts.The Bank Confirmation Letter serves a couple of different functions. First, it allows the executor to verify the existence of accounts held by the financial institution. It also helps the executor determine the exact ownership of the accounts. If the account is held jointly with another individual, the account may or may not be subject to probate. Similarly, retirement accounts are not subject to probate. Therefore, it is important for the executor to be able to identify the types of accounts owned by the decedent and in whose name the accounts are held. This confirmation letter allows the executor to fulfill this duty.Another of the executor's asset gathering responsibilities is valuing the decedent's assets as of the date of the decedent's death. Most bank accounts are generally valued at the face amount of the account because of the ability to immediately liquidate the account, such as with a checking or savings account. This confirmation letter allows the executor to value the accounts as of the date of the decedent's death, including interest accrued on the accounts as of the date of the decedent's death but not yet posted to the account by the financial institution.The executor is also responsible for inventorying the decedent's assets. This confirmation letter allows the decedent to gather information for all of the accounts held by the financial institution where the letter is mailed. The executor may or may not have all information concerning accounts owned by the decedent. Even if the executor does not have information about all of the accounts owned by the decedent or the account numbers for all of the accounts, the executor can send this letter to financial institutions where the decedent may potentially have held accounts. This gives the executor the ability to locate assets or which the executor did not have prior knowledge.Accounts at financial institutions continue to earn interest after the decedent's death. Such interest is income to the estate that the executor must report on the estate income tax return. The confirmation letter assists the executor in obtaining information about accounts owned by the decedent, which in turn become assets of the estate. The executor can then keep track of the assets of the estate that will produce income for the estate that must be included on the estate's income tax return.
If the decedent named a beneficiary on his bank account the beneficiary can obtain a certified copy of the death certificate and proper identification and visit the bank to close out the account and obtain the funds.
No. Ownership of a a joint account passes automatically to the surviving joint owner unless it can be proven that the account was set up as joint for purposes of convenience only by the decedent.
If there is a will, then the beneficiary gets the money. If there is no will all the children of the decedent get an equal share of the money.
No. The payable on death arrangement that was made with the bank will control. That means the account will not be included in the decedent's estate. The funds will be paid over to the POD beneficiary.A POD account is not used to entrust a person to distribute monies upon a person's death. The customary manner is to keep the funds in a joint account for convenience purposes only, to be distributed amongst the heirs upon the death of the primary account holder. That arrangement can be expressed in a will. The courts do not act on your report of what a decedent wanted to happen with her estate. In your case it should have been expressed in a will if that was indeed the plan.No. The payable on death arrangement that was made with the bank will control. That means the account will not be included in the decedent's estate. The funds will be paid over to the POD beneficiary.A POD account is not used to entrust a person to distribute monies upon a person's death. The customary manner is to keep the funds in a joint account for convenience purposes only, to be distributed amongst the heirs upon the death of the primary account holder. That arrangement can be expressed in a will. The courts do not act on your report of what a decedent wanted to happen with her estate. In your case it should have been expressed in a will if that was indeed the plan.No. The payable on death arrangement that was made with the bank will control. That means the account will not be included in the decedent's estate. The funds will be paid over to the POD beneficiary.A POD account is not used to entrust a person to distribute monies upon a person's death. The customary manner is to keep the funds in a joint account for convenience purposes only, to be distributed amongst the heirs upon the death of the primary account holder. That arrangement can be expressed in a will. The courts do not act on your report of what a decedent wanted to happen with her estate. In your case it should have been expressed in a will if that was indeed the plan.No. The payable on death arrangement that was made with the bank will control. That means the account will not be included in the decedent's estate. The funds will be paid over to the POD beneficiary.A POD account is not used to entrust a person to distribute monies upon a person's death. The customary manner is to keep the funds in a joint account for convenience purposes only, to be distributed amongst the heirs upon the death of the primary account holder. That arrangement can be expressed in a will. The courts do not act on your report of what a decedent wanted to happen with her estate. In your case it should have been expressed in a will if that was indeed the plan.
That means two or more people share an account and when one dies the other or others automatically acquire the share of the decedent. The last one living will become the sole owner of the account. A joint account does not need to pass through probate.
If owned by the decedent, yes. Any property owned by the decedent at the time of death is part of their estate.If owned by the decedent, yes. Any property owned by the decedent at the time of death is part of their estate.If owned by the decedent, yes. Any property owned by the decedent at the time of death is part of their estate.If owned by the decedent, yes. Any property owned by the decedent at the time of death is part of their estate.
A check made payable to the estate of a deceased person can be a problem. Legally, it must be cashed by the court appointed estate representative, i.e., the executor or administrator. If there is no other property owned by the decedent and no probate was filed, and if the decedent owned a joint bank account with another person, the bank may allow the check to be deposited in that account. However, if that doesn't work then a probate will need to be filed to establish the identity of the person who can legally cash the check.