Blog & Resources

Our “Ask a Question” mailbag addresses what happens when a sibling dies without a Will in New Jersey.

“My sister died in New Jersey without a will. Our parents are dead, and she never married or had children. Our dad had a daughter out of wedlock when he was very young. It was something that the family didn’t speak of, and we only saw her once in our lives. If a sibling dies without a Will in New Jersey, does a half-sibling receive a share?”

From Our “Ask a Question” mailbag: “I have a contract to purchase my neighbor’s land. Before I could complete the process, he died. Now the family refuses to open the estate and sign the deed over to me. Is there a method for enforcing a land contract against a deceased owner?

From Our “Ask a Question” mailbag: “My father died recently, and I am the executor. I will file his Will next week. But my siblings have already contacted the life insurance company to collect the life insurance. Can they receive the life insurance before I file the Will? Is collecting life insurance before filing the Will proper?”

From Our “Ask a Question” mailbag: “My father at his death gave my brother, and I equal amounts. My brother got life insurance, and I got the house and cash. The Will says the residue pays all taxes. Do we split the New Jersey Estate Tax on life insurance?

From Our “Ask a Question” mailbag:” Do I pay probate fees on real property located outside of Pennsylvania? Do I even list it on the Register of Wills’ Inventory? I am the executor of my mother’s estate in Philadelphia. She died owning a New Jersey shore home. Do I list this on the Philadelphia Register of Wills’ Inventory and then pay a probate fee?

Our “Ask a Question” mailbag, addresses the issue of what if you die without a Will.

“My Mom died without a Will as a widow in Philadelphia. How do I sell her home?”

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: The attorney handling my uncle’s Bucks County estate mailed me a Receipt, Release, Refunding and Indemnification Agreement. There are no details about how much he spent or other expenses. If I sign this, do I waive my rights to ask any questions?

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: My children would just endlessly fight each other, so I want to name a lawyer as my executor. I see most lawyers charge a percentage of the estate to serve as executor, but your website says you charge by the hour. Which is better?

From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: My grandmother died in a senior living facility in Philadelphia. She died without any real assets except for a small bank account and some stock held just her name. Her will said the stock was supposed to be used to pay her last bills and then anything left over would be divided among the grandchildren. We’re confused as to how to sell the stock once we do the transfer paperwork. Do we have to sell it through Computershare or can we sell it through any brokerage?

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

The short answer is: no, you cannot transfer the deed without going through probate.