ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: I gave full poa to my friend 5 years ago and gave a will to my sister a few months ago. is that will valid. ATTORNEY ANSWER BY MARGARET L. CROSS: A durable power of attorney is a document in which you give another the right to make financial
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Our father died 7 years ago. Left the house to my brother and i. My brother lives in our father’s house and owes me foe half of what it is worth. He promised to pay 3 years ago but nothing has been received. ATTORNEY ANSWER BY MARGARET L. CROSS: As a joint owner, both you and your brother have full rights to use and occupy the home. Your issue is not an estate administration
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: My Uncle past away a year and a half ago. I have requested a copy of the trust from his trustee, and the trustee’s attorney several times.
ATTORNEY ANSWER BY MARGARET L. CROSS: To revoke a power of attorney, you will need to sign a revocation document and deliver it to your future ex-wife. You should also execute a new power of attorney. Also, you should execute a new Last Will and Testament because if you die before you are divorced, she will inherit all of your probate property. Beliveau Law Group: Massachusetts | Florida | New Hampshire The estate planning attorneys at the
ATTORNEY ANSWER BY MARGARET L. CROSS: Massachusetts has a $1,000,000 threshold (not an exemption) to determine if the decedent owes Massachusetts estate taxes. All assets owned by the decedent, including what is in a revocable trust, are counted. This includes life insurance, jointly owned property, revocable trust assets, as well as many others. Also, if the decedent made taxable gifts during his lifetime, he would have effectively lowered the threshold from the million by the amount
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: My cousin, sister and I have a joint bank account. My cousin recently passed and now my sister and I would like to withdraw the funds and are not sure if we are able to or if the account must go through probate. ATTORNEY ANSWER BY MARGARET L. CROSS: A joint account passes by operation of law to the surviving owners. You are free to withdraw the funds as your own. However, be aware
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The person who is not of sound mind is 71 and will not eat or get out of bed. He only wants alcohol which his wife gives to him. ATTORNEY ANSWER BY MARGARET L. CROSS: Elder abuse is a serious offense. Being a caretaker is a hard job, which also carries much responsibility. The Massachusetts Appeals Court in Commonwealth v Cruz 2015 WL 5164397 (Mass. App. Sept. 4, 2015) recently held that
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Her application was denied. I know an appeal is next but what happens after that? I am POA, but am on disability and the lawyer has used up nearly all of the retainer, and there is no more money to pay anyone. ATTORNEY ANSWER BY MARGARET L. CROSS: It would be helpful if you stated the reason that the application was denied. The first step to challenging the denial is to request a
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