Estates

Forever. The attorney doesn't represent you. He / she represents the trustee of the trust. The attorney advises the trustee, and probably should advise the trustee to make disclosure to the beneficiaries (unless the trust instrument waives that duty for the trustee). However, the attorney doesn't control the trustee; he / she only advises the trustee. If you want information, you are going to have to ask for it. If you get no response in a reasonable about of time (say 10 days), you may have to demand it and possibly sue for an accounting.

The immediate family, or closest living relatives if there is no immediate family, will get it nearly 100% of the time. In this case, that means the wife and sons. In most cases, it will, be equally divided among all three. However, it is a possibility that the wife may get a bit more. It is rarely cut and dry in cases like these. Your absolute best bet would be to contact a lawyer to be completely certain.

You need to speak with a tax professional. Contributions to an Individual Retirement Account come from an individual's earnings and are limited by the IRS.

Yes. The statutory fees vary in different jurisdictions and often the probate court will offer guidelines to provide the consumer with some idea of the costs. You need to check your own state practices.

A life estate is granted by the owner of the property. You have no right to challenge their right to control their own property.

After all matters involving administration of the estate have been concluded. This typically involves paying debts, possibly selling assets, filing all required tax returns, and getting discharged from the IRS (if such discharge is requested). It can take a very short time (two weeks is the quickest I have seen) for an uncontested simple estate to 10 years or more for complicated or contested estates.

Life estate is an interest in real property. It is measured by the life of the person that it has been granted to. As long as they are alive, they have that right in the property. Once they die, it ceases to exist and goes to the remainderman, the person listed to get it after their death.

In such cases, it is always better to approach local authorities and municipal corporations to assist in burying the dead body. We cannot determine the responsibility unless we have some information about the deceased.

One person is unhappy about some aspect of the land and wants to change the status quo. The other person isn't willing to accommodate the request to change the status quo. ==Clarification== There are many reasons for land litigation. Several are listed below. Incorrect deed descriptions that described too much or too little land. In the first case the grantor wants the extra land back. In the other case the grantee wants the land they agreed to buy. Two people who both claim ownership to the same parcel. They need to litigate to see who has superior proof of ownership. A developer who is trying to move a cart road easement that runs through the middle of a parcel that could other wise be subdivided into country lots. A landowner who has been using a private road for access for many years and is barred by a new owner of the land over which she has been crossing would need to bring an action in court for a prescriptive easement. A title exam reveals that several heirs in a chain of title never released their interests in the land. They may come forward and make a claim that will need to be settled by a court decree. An owner may bring a suit to prohibit someone else from using his land to prevent a later claim of adverse possession. An owner may litigate to remove a right of way that is no longer operative because an interstate cut through the land extinguishing the need for the ROW.

Check with The Center for Life Insurance Disputes.

_________________ [signature line] John Doe, Trustee of the Biff Doe Trust.

England and Wales answer. The bank/building society has to give you the equity after all fees etc. The fees are HUGE, and will eat up about 10% of the sale value. Roughly the same answer for the US. See if you can sell it FAST. It'll save you a lot if you can.

A stepmother should be allowed to discipline a child such as grounding. However, a stepmother should not be able to physically discipline a child.

The name on a mortgage cannot be changed. A different person can become obligated on the mortgage if he guarantees it or the mortgage is refinanced.

Yes. And what a mess it would be.

Wait for bank statements to arrive in the mail. Review tax returns for clues to bank accounts a person might have had. I can't really think of anything else.

An account is no longer reported after a period of 7 years of inactivity in the USA; 6 years in Canada.

Yes. They sign a deed conveying their interest in the house to the wife.

It goes to the estate and is then distributed according to the intestacy laws for your state or country.

$12,000 per year, per donor and donee. I can give $12,000 a year to as many different people as I choose. Any amount I pay for anyone else's educational and/or medical services, is unlimited. Any amount I give a spouse who is a U.S. citizen.

That depends on the laws of intestacy in her state or country. In general it will be the spouse, followed by her descendants.

Once an insurance company (insurer) receives a valid proof of loss (claim form), the insurer will begin the process of contacting beneficiaries of any life insurance. The insurer will first contact the primary beneficiary. If unable to locate the primary beneficiary, or if the primary beneficiary is dead, the insurer will then move to the contingent beneficiary (second beneficiary). If the insurer has no response to the contingent beneficiary, the insurer then moves to the tertiary beneficiary (third beneficiary). Failure here will force the insurer to pay any life proceeds to the estate of the decedent, which can open the claim to the creditors of the decedent in most states. More than 40% of life insurance policies in America have no named beneficiary! Failure to name the beneficiary can leave your loved ones in a bind. Always name your beneficiaries. List one or more in each category (primary, contingent, tertiary) too. Most people name their spouse first, children as contingent, and parents or siblings as tertiary.

A beneficiary is a third party to a contract between and insurance company (insurer) and an insured (customer). Since the contract allows the beneficiary to be changed at any time (revocable beneficiary), there is no way for any attorney to know in advance whether any one person is named as a beneficiary on a contract of life insurance. If someone you know has died, your first step is to determine if any life insurance exists. This can be accomplished by going through important papers, contacting employers, looking through bank statements for payments to insurers, etc. Once located, contact the insurer to file a claim. The insurer is required in most states to provide claim forms within 30 days. Once a proof of loss (claim form) is received, the insurer will begin the process of locating and paying beneficiaries. If no beneficiary can be found (alive or otherwise), the insurer will pay the estate of the decedent. Unfortunately, paying the estate can open the claim to creditors of the decedent and probate, depending on the rules of your specific state.

By carrying out its instructions. The step by step depends on the content of the estate plan.