Estates

Not automatically. In most cases, the default laws of inheritance do not consider adopted siblings as heirs unless specifically mentioned in a will or estate plan. It's important to have a legally binding document outlining your wishes for inheritance to ensure your adopted brother receives what you want him to inherit.

In Texas, if the executor of a will is incarcerated for a felony, they may be disqualified from serving as executor. It will be up to the court to determine if a new executor should be appointed to handle the estate administration.

To search for a copy of a will, you can start by contacting the deceased person's lawyer if known. You can also reach out to the probate court in the county where the person lived to inquire if a will was filed for probate. Additionally, check with family members or the executor of the estate as they may have a copy of the will.

You need two witnesses for a will or codicil to a will.

However, if the will or codicil is entirely handwritten (holographic will/codicil), no witnesses are needed. Holographic wills are valid in Ontario, Alberta, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

A will may be changed or revoked at any time by the testator. A new will can revoke an older will by stating that intention in the first paragraph of the new will. The first paragraph should always declare, "I hereby revoke any and all other wills and codicils heretofore made by me." You can read more about executing wills and estate planning in Louisiana at the links below.

You need to check the statutes in your jurisdiction since the time period for creditors to file a claim varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The time period is generally six months or less.

The distribution shouldn't be made until the statutory period during which creditors can make a claim has expired. An executor must act efficiently and expeditiously in settling an estate. If you think things are not proceeding as quickly as they should then ask the executor and/or the attorney who is handling the estate for a status report. If you don't receive a prompt response then complain to the court. Depending on the complexity of the estate it can take a few months to two years or more to complete the probate proceeding.

No. An executor cannot take his fees from one beneficiary's share of the estate. He must follow the instructions in the will. He must perform his duties honestly and according to the law. The debts and costs of probating the estate come out of the assets first. If there is not enough left to pay the full amount of the legacies then they must be pro-rated equally. The executor cannot discriminate against one beneficiary.

A codicil must follow the requirements of a will. Although the statute does not require a notary it always a good practice to have wills notarized. 32-1-104. Will other than holographic or nuncupative. — The execution of a will, other than a holographic or nuncupative will, must be by the signature of the testator and of at least two (2) witnesses as follows: (1) The testator shall signify to the attesting witnesses that the instrument is the testator's will and either: (A) The testator sign; (B) Acknowledge the testator's signature already made; or (C) At the testator's direction and in the testator's presence have someone else sign the testator's name; and (D) In any of the above cases the act must be done in the presence of two (2) or more attesting witnesses. (2) The attesting witnesses must sign: (A) In the presence of the testator; and (B) In the presence of each other. [Acts 1941, ch. 125, § 4; C. Supp. 1950, § 8098.4; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 32-104.]

The executor should not have allowed the property out of her/his possession. It is their duty to safeguard the property on behalf of the heirs. The executor will need to sue the person who has taken the property.

In most jurisdictions a legally adopted sibling is a legal heir. You would need to check the laws of your state. You can find state-by-state intestacy laws linked in the related question below.

If an executor has been appointed by the court you can contact the court and request a copy of the will. Once a will has been presented to probate court for allowance it becomes a public record and available to anyone who requests to review the probate file.

Yes. Although a Tennessee will does not have to be notarized to be legal, having your will properly notarized so as to be "self proving" will make the probate process easier. See the information provided at the link below.

My dad bequeathed his car to my older sibling by his Last Will.

To be valid a trust must be in writing and meet certain statutory requirements. A trust that holds title to real estate generally must conform to the requirements of the laws of the state where the land is located regardless of where the trust originated. That means that if you live in California and draft a California trust that will hold title to land in Massachusetts, the trust must conform to Massachusetts law. A "constructive trust" can be imposed by a court to prevent unjust enrichment or to redress a wrong.

Laws regarding inheritance vary by jurisdiction, but generally, estranged children can still be entitled to claim a portion of their father's intestate estate if they are able to establish their legal right to inheritance. However, this may depend on factors such as the laws of the specific jurisdiction, any existing wills or legal documents, and the nature of the estrangement. It is advisable to seek legal counsel for guidance specific to the situation.

In most cases, stepchildren are not automatically entitled to inherit from your estate unless you specifically include them in your will or estate plan. If you wish for your stepchildren to receive any of your assets upon your passing, you should outline your intentions in a legally binding document like a will or trust. Consulting with an estate planning attorney can help you ensure that your wishes are carried out effectively.

If the trust is revocable, by an amendment signed by the grantor and trustee. Texas: If the trust is not revocable, a court proceeding is necessary. You must prove that because of unforseen circumstances, the purposes of the trust cannot be met by compliance with the trust terms.

Mrs Gallie made a will leaving her house to her nephew, Parkin. Parkin's friend Lee was in debt. Through a series of circumstances Lee tricked Mrs. Gallie into signing a document that Lee told her was a gift deed to her nephew, Parkin. She couldn't read it because she had broken her glasses. She signed it. It was a deed to Lee.

Lee mortgaged the house to the Anglia Building Society. He defaulted and the lender sought possession of the house. Mrs. Gallie sued on the claim that the deed was void under the doctrine of non est factum. When she died the case was taken over by her her executor, Saunders. Judgment was entered for the Anglia Building Society because Mrs. Gallie had signed the document without having informed herself of its meaning.

The official citation for the case in the UK is Saunders v Anglia Building Society [1970] 3 All ER 961.

Probably. Where the will was executed is irrelevant. The only issue is where did the testator die? If the testator died as a resident of Michigan, the will has to be probated in Michigan. If the testator died as a resident of Ohio, the will has to be probated in Ohio. If the named executor, or the person to serve as executor with the will annexed in the absence of the named executor, is not an Ohio resident, s/he may have to designate a "resident agent," usually the lawyer handling the estate.

In probably varies from state to state. In Texas, ineligible people are those who are convicted felons, those without capacity (minor children or physically or mentally incapacitated), nonresidents of the state who have not appointed a resident agent for service of process, or persons the probate court finds to be "unsuitable." If you think that sounds vague, you are right.

In South Carolina, heirs typically have eight months after the judge signs off on a probate estate to contest it or bring it to the superior court. This is in accordance with the state's probate laws, and it is crucial for heirs to act within this timeframe if they wish to challenge the probate process.