Questions & Answers

Trust agreement

Additional Information: There are 3 equal beneficiaries to the trust.  One of the beneficiaries is wanting to sell and the other 2 do not want to.  At any point can the house be sold or rented without all 3 in agreement?  Thank you. ATTORNEY ANSWER: In order to ascertain what the beneficiaries’ rights are under the trust agreement, you must first look at the trust agreement. Typically, the beneficiaries cannot demand from the Trustee that the

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Intestacy and filing disclaimers

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: My grandfather, a PA resident, passed away earlier this month and left no will. He and my grandmother (still living) held accounts jointly as well as separately. Because he died intestate, his personal accounts will be divided between my grandmother and the three children. The children do not want the money and would rather let my grandmother keep it. If they each file a disclaimer, does the money go to my grandmother or to

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How does the executor bill the decedent’s estate for the executor’s services?

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Can the executor of an estate bill on a flat fee hourly basis or does the executor charge for their services according to a percentage of the value of the estate? ATTORNEY ANSWER: The Executor of the estate in Massachusetts may be paid reasonable compensation for the type of work he preformed. The Executor must list the payment to himself in the Accountings. If you disagree with the amount the Executor has paid himself,

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Can a resident be discharged from nursing home because back child support will start to be with-held from social security?

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Social Security will now start with-holding back child support from payment made to nursing home. He has no income and no way to pay the difference. ATTORNEY ANSWER: I am going to assume from your question that the nursing home resident is receiving Mediciad benefits. For patients who are on Medicaid in the nursing home, the nursing home is paid partially by the resident through the resident’s income and Medicaid pays the balance. The

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How long does it take to get a hearing before a judge in probate court?

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: I am in a dispute over a house between myself and my mother.  We both own the house we need to settle in court.  How can we get a hearing and how long does it take to get one? ATTORNEY ANSWER: First, I do not know that Probate Court is the appropriate venue for your hearing. If all parties who own the property are alive, Land Court may be the correct forum.   Secondly, a

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Under Massachusetts law, are there any circumstances that allow children to contest against the father when there was no will?

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: My mother recently passed and we don’t know for sure if she had a will. We know that she always said that she had but now our dad is saying that she didn’t.  He is taking control over all of her possessions saying that he can do what he wants. I’ve been living in one of the houses for 22 years and have been paying the taxes but the receipts were in my mother

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What is a reasonable fee to draw up a Codicil to an already existing will?

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: I just needed my will updated so that my daughter instead of brother in law is the executor of the will. What is a reasonable fee? ATTORNEY ANSWER: Each attorney sets his own fee schedule and some attorneys do not charge for an initial meeting. Also, attorney fees vary according to the attorney’s experience as well as the location of the attorney within the state.   Usually the attorney who originally drafted the documents charges

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Do I, as executrix have the right to charge rent to a sibling who resides in an estate property?

Additional  Infgormation: My sister resides in an estate property. My mom passed about 2 1/2 years ago & I have repeatedly asked my sister to pay rent as she is living there for free. She has waffled back & forth repeatedly as to her desires to purchase the house. When I attempted to put it on the market, she removed the lockbox & denies me access to the property. Now, with pressure put upon her, she

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Is a lawyer liable to maintain your last will in safe storage at his office?

Additional Information: What does the lawyer who stores your last will required to do upon your death? ATTORNEY ANSWER: An attorney can take no legal steps to probate your will unless directed by the executor who is named in the will. Upon your death, your executor may request your will from the attorney and proceed with any probate filings himself, retain your original attorney to open the probate, or retain his own attorney to open the

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