Do You Have a Will?

Many Americans will face the challenges of their loved one dying without a will. According to Think Advisor, a recent survey finds that 59 percent of men and 72 percent of women do not have a will or estate plan. In another survey, CNBC finds a mere 33 percent of Americans have properly established estate plans. Many individuals feel they do not own enough to necessitate writing a will or negatively perceive estate planning as too complex and expensive. They leave their grieving loved ones to accept the court’s decisions regarding their loved one’s inheritable assets and possessions.

Resolving the Estate

The probate court judge’s primary duty is to oversee the lawful resolution of the decedent’s financial affairs. They will follow state law to select a personal representative as the estate administrator. There is technically no executor as no will was left to execute, yet the estate still must be legally resolved. A loved one can begin the intestacy process by going to the decedent’s county probate court, filing a death certificate, and petitioning to begin probate. They will typically nominate themselves as the administrator, but the probate court judge has the authority to name the estate administrator.

Assets Falling Outside of Probate and the Role of Administrator

Like dying with a will, dying intestate does not affect jointly held accounts and those assets with a designated beneficiary or payable-upon-death status. These may include money market, savings and checking accounts, IRAs, retirement accounts, certificates of deposit (CD), life insurance, and annuity policies. The estate administrator, as appointed by the probate court judge, will perform the functions as required by state law, including:

• Identify and give notice to estate beneficiaries and other interested parties
• Give notice to creditors
• Give notice to all government agencies from which the decedent received benefits
• Pay debts and fees, including state and federal taxes
• Inventory assets
• Distribute assets
• Close the estate

Under the law, family members may inherit the remaining assets after payment of the estate’s final debts through the estate administration process. The handlers of the administration process may be one person, two or more individuals, a bank, or a law firm. In cases of estates under a certain dollar amount, the administrator may petition the probate court for a simplified version of the probate proceeding.

Standard Probate Proceedings

Though some of the filings and processes are different than probate with a will, the probate court is still actively involved if your loved one dies intestate. The probate court processes may:

Resolve or prevent conflicts – A probate court judge will decide how to answer any legal questions that may arise related to state law. When someone dies without a will, family members often claim certain assets or possessions of the decedent, citing a verbal promise. The estate administrator can avoid becoming the lightning rod of controversy for decision-making since the probate judge makes the final decision. Although this is no guarantee heirs won’t fight things out in court, in most cases, intestate succession laws prevent these disputes.

Legally Transfer Title – Real property like a house, car, truck, or boat, without joint tenancy with right of survivorship or held in trust, requires the probate court to transfer the name on the title. In cases of real estate owned by a couple or shared personal property in a community property state, titles may transfer automatically to the surviving spouse.

Cut off claims by creditors – Once the probate court process starts, creditors have a certain amount of time to bring a claim against the estate. Estate administration can reduce this timeframe in some states to as little as three months so that a creditor can’t approach a family member looking for money months or even a year into the future.

Take money from accounts – If the decedent’s financial accounts are not jointly held or do not have named beneficiaries, or payable-on-death status, a family can’t access the funds in the accounts without the probate process and approval.

Probate Laws Vary by State

In cases of dying intestate, the probate process is similar among all states, but state laws still vary. If you are administering an estate without a will, an estate planning attorney or probate lawyer can help you understand the differences in the probate process. Getting professional legal advice can be well worth the money spent to distribute the decedent’s assets according to state law and properly close the estate.

We hope you found this article helpful. Contact our office at (740) 947-7277 and schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal matters. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you.

The post What to Expect During the Probate Process Without a Will appeared first on Seif & McNamee.

caring.com

Dying without a will (dying intestate) or dying with an invalid will cause logistic problems, becoming financially and emotionally draining on the loved ones you have left behind. In the absence of a will to name an executor, the state will provide a list of people eligible to fill the role. Should probate court be necessary, the court will make a selection based on this list.

Who Will Settle My Estate without a Will?

Typically, states make a surviving spouse or registered domestic partner their first choice. If there is no spouse or partner, then adult children usually follow next on that priority list, then parents or other closest family members related by blood. Further next of kin includes grandparents, grandchildren, aunts and uncles, nieces, and nephews.

There are rare instances where the state can find no next of kin. In this instance, your assets will wind up in the state’s coffers. Suppose your heirs are more distant next of kin. In that case, they may require an affidavit notarizing them to be heirs to the estate property and further documentation requirements to transfer ownership of assets. State intestacy laws encourage reasonable efforts by probate authorities to identify heirs in the absence of a valid will or no will at all.

In all cases, without a will, there must be a petition to the court to appoint a personal representative to settle your debts, final taxes, minor guardianship of children, and distribution of your personal property. In the absence of any legal heirs, the law permits the court to appoint any legally competent person.

What Relationships Are Acceptable for Representation without a Will?

Each state has relationship qualification requirements for intestate succession that may not be as obvious as you think. For instance:

• Surviving Spouse – must have been legally married to the decedent at the time of death.
• Legal separation or pending divorce – a judge will determine whether or not the surviving member of the couple is a surviving spouse.
• Common-law marriage – Very few states recognize common-law marriages, and each state has its own sets of circumstances for approval.
• Same-sex couples – Same-sex marriage is now legal in all 50 states and has the same rights and responsibilities as all legally married couples. Same-sex registered domestic partners or civil union partners recognition is state law dependent.
• Adopted children – in all states, legally adopted children inherit from their adoptive parents in the same manner as biological children.
• Stepchildren – Most states will not include stepchildren who were never legally adopted.
• Foster children – These children will not usually inherit as foster parenting is not adoption.
• Children adopted by an unrelated family or adult – Most states recognize that placing a child up for adoption severs the legal tie between them and their birth parents. Under intestate succession laws, neither the child can inherit from the parents nor the parents from the child.
• Children adopted by a stepparent – Depending on state law, a child adopted by a stepparent may still inherit from their biological parents.
• Children born after the parent’s death – Any child conceived before a parent’s death but born after (posthumous child) inherits just as children born during the parent’s life.
• Children born out of wedlock – These children always inherit from their birth mother unless an unrelated family adopts them. To inherit from the father, the child usually must show some paternal proof.

Inheriting under intestate succession laws may require an heir to live a certain amount of time longer than the decedent. Depending on the state, this can be 120 hours, five days, or merely having outlived the decedent for any period of time qualifies them as an heir. If an heir dies, close relatives such as the deceased person’s child may inherit all or some of what their parent would have received. Known as the “right of representation,” these children or grandchildren may be eligible as heirs though it can be complicated to establish depending on state law.

What Could Happen to My Minor Children Without a Will?

If you have minor children having a valid will allow you to name a personal guardian(s). In the absence of a will, a judge will have to appoint an interim guardian until enough information about the situation is gathered to determine the best decision for the welfare of the children.

Depending on your circumstances, a will can be a straightforward document that removes the onus on your surviving loved ones to handle your responsibilities. If you have minor children or substantial assets, your will may be part of a larger estate plan.

Don’t let the state decide who inherits your money and your property. We would be happy to help you figure out a plan that works for you. Contact our office at (740) 947-7277 and schedule a free consultation to discuss your particular situation.

The post Taking Care of an Estate Without a Will appeared first on Seif & McNamee.