Blog & Resources

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: I am a beneficiary in a will that has been through probate. Unfortunately, the executrix is very untrustworthy, and I feel that she has been spending all the money in the deceased’s accounts. Neither she, nor her attorney, have provided me with any accounting of any accounts. Is there any way that I could freeze the accounts before all the money is spent?

Executors in Pennsylvania are given a great deal of power to act on their own, without court supervision. This works well when the Executor is honest, as the estate can be managed less expensively. If the Executor is untrustworthy, though, this system can fail unless the beneficiaries enforce their interests.

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: My husband died a resident of New Jersey and we owned a house together in Atlantic County which is in both of our names. He has two children from a prior marriage. Do his children get any ownership in the house?

The answer will depend on how you both owned the house together. You wrote that you owned your house “in both names,” which could mean you owned the house in any of three different ways.

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: It is important to me that at my death I am cremated. I find the idea of a being buried in a casket ridiculous. The problem is that my wife will not carry out this wish. She wants us buried next to each other in her New Jersey family plot. How do I make sure my wishes are respected?

If you do not make any specific statement about final burial arrangements in your will, then the matter could end up in litigation-with your wife’s opinion being the one that the court finally enforces.

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: How do I make sure the inheritance that I leave my daughter passes to my grandchildren at her death?

If you leave your daughter an inheritance outright, then-at her death-it will be available to satisfy any creditors or law suits she might have. It might even end up in her husband’s name, rather than passing to your grandchildren.

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: My husband died several years ago, so I now own the family house. My children get along fairly well, but they should not own this house together. It would cause conflict. There is little else that I own, so I want to make sure that the house is sold and that there is no fight about it. How do I do that?

Two things come to mind.

First, in circumstances like this, I will place specific language in the will instructing the executor to sell the property for fair market value. A child may buy the property, but it must be without any loan from the estate. Therefore, the child is treated like any other buyer.

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: My grandmother died in Chester County without any real assets, except for a small bank account and some solely owned stock. Her will says her assets are to pay her last bills and anything left is divided among the grandchildren. We’re confused as to how to sell the stock. Do we have to sell it through Computershare or can we sell it through any brokerage?

During her lifetime, the stock and bank account could only be accessed or liquidated by your grandmother. Now that she is dead, the accounts will sit until an authorized person contacts the bank and brokerage. Since your grandmother died with a will, it likely names an executor. That person needs to take the will to the Chester County Register of Wills along with the death certificate, legal identification and a checkbook.

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: My husband died a resident of Atlantic County without a will. All his assets were owned joint accounts with me. This week, I received a form letter in the mail saying they had issued a statement and a proof of claim against my husband’s estate. They’re also requesting immediate payment in full. The letter is addressed to his estate, but came in the mail to me. What should I do?

When someone dies without a will and all their assets are held jointly with a spouse, there is no need to file a will as the assets pass to the surviving spouse because of joint ownership. That being said, avoiding probate by using a joint ownership does not mean that he avoided his creditors.

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: Years ago, I gave a friend a General Durable Power of Attorney. Now I am married, living in Chester County and want to give Power of Attorney to my spouse. My former-friend will not give me the old Power of Attorney. Can I revoke or void the Power of Attorney if he still has the original?

Yes, you can void a Power of Attorney at any time as long as you have the requisite mental capacity. Your situation will be a little more complex, as you have given the original document to your former agent. I have not seen that Power of Attorney, but it may have a paragraph that states that banks and others need not confirm with you that the document is still in power.

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: My mother is incapacitated and living in an assisted living facility in Burlington County, New Jersey. She appointed my brother agent under her power of attorney. My mother has a life insurance policy on her life that names me as beneficiary. My brother refuses to make the payment, so the policy will soon lapse. Can I make the payment?

You certainly can make the payment, as the insurance company does not care who sends the check. The life insurance company will only care if the check clears. If the policy is a term policy, you should consider when the policy lapses.

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: My entire life, I have lived in Camden County, New Jersey. My parents and lived in Camden, and so do I. My father died two years ago, and my mother passed away last week. I was an only child, everything in my mother’s will was left to me, and I am executor. Do I need to probate her will, or open an estate? Her only assets were the family home (valued at $600,000) and her car.

The short answer is: yes, because you cannot transfer the deed without going through probate. In New Jersey, there are only a few cases where there is no need to probate a will.