Probate

Client’s mother died last year. The primary asset in the mother’s estate is the home where client lives. The mother executed two wills prior to her death. A 2003 will leaves the property to client’s brother. A valid 2007 holographic will, which is in the client possession, leaves the property to client and grants a life estate to client’s sister.

Client currently resides in the property owned by her deceased father.  Client’s father died in April 1987, leaving client’s mother as the sole beneficiary of his estate. Mother renounced in favor of client to obtain Letters of Administration for father’s estate in 2001.  (The petition for probate erroneously listed client and another sibling as heirs of the father, which will need to be corrected.)  Client never completed the estate administration.

Client resides in the property titled in her deceased grandfather and his deceased wife’s names as tenants in common. Grandfather died intestate in 2002, leaving his wife with ¾ interest in the property and the remaining ¼ split between his 2 surviving children, 7 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren.  Some of the grandchildren (client’s cousins) and great-grandchildren cannot be located, but the remaining heirs are willing to give their interests to client. Grandfather’s wife died in 2010, leaving client with her ¾ interest in her will.

Client and his wife live in a home titled in the names of his wife’s deceased parents.

Client is residing in the home titled in her deceased mother’s name.

Client, who has significant medical issues, is living in a family home. Client’s stepfather and his first wife are the record owners. Stepfather and his first wife had 2 daughters together, and the first wife then died in the 1960s. Stepfather then married client’s mother. Client’s stepfather died intestate in the late 1980s, leaving client’s mother and the stepfather’s 2 daughters as his heirs. Client’s mother paid her stepdaughters $5,000 for their interests in the property, but a deed was never recorded transferring title.