Am I legally obligated to pay for my brother's funeral? (whom I have had no contact w/ more than several yrs)
471757
Actually, funeral costs are a debt to the estate. The heirs who accept inheritance are then responsible for the estate's debts. If an heir renounces the succession (which is the general course of action when the estates debts exceed its assets) then that person is not legally obligated to pay the debts of the estate.
103503
You need to get some real free legal advise. Are you saying you can't afford to pay for one either? If you have no major ties to him it shouldn't be too difficult. Go to your local court house and start asking questions. I don't think it will cost as much as you think.\n\nI would not worry about your dignity right now. You would not believe what others are going through or have gone through. If they are true friends they are not judging you.\n\nIf you pay for it think of it as you leaving and not him letting you go.
252737
I'ed first make sure an organ donation was set up and would be taken care of. Then I'ed make sure my brother would get all my money and stuff and would be taken care of. My funeral would be a party, I would write out little requests of things I didn't have time to do, everything from sky diving to adopting a child, I would ask the people that loved me to pick one and do it, along with something they always wanted to do, then get together a year after I died and share with each other what they did and how it changed them. You're right if we live like we were dying and we take care of the things and people in our life today, not only can we make our life worth living, but our loved ones can help us live on, not only in their memories, but their actions.
983267
Any solicitor will expect you to place him in funds initially to cover the costs of taking out Letters of Administration.  One of the problems of dealing with the estate of a person who has died intestate is that inheritance tax has to be paid up front by the person making the application, so there are more things than the solicitor's fees to worry about, especially if your mother left substantial property.  However, if your mother died leaving a number of bank and building society accounts then what could happen in practice is that once things start moving, you will find the solicitor handling the estate willing and able to reimburse you for your initial expenditure and then take money out of the estate to cover fees as he goes along. If your mother left considerable liquid assets, therefore, all you have to worry about is finding the initial lump sum to pay down to the solicitor.  If she didn't, then you may well have to take out a bank loan to pay fees and charges, as otherwise nothing is going to get done.  Remember, everything you pay down is reimbursable.  Very unfairly, however, you can't claim for interest charges if you do take out a loan.  \nI have been in this situation and I know what it is like.  My sympathies as well as my condolences.\n\np.s.\nHaving traced your earlier question, I realise that you are not in fact in a position to take action of this kind, as another sibling is administrator of the estate.  That means that you cannot have access to your share of your mother's estate until it has been wound up.  That other relative is in the driving seat and unless you feel that you have reason to sue your relative (which sould be a most regrettable thing to do and would probably cause a permanent rift) you will probably have to sit this one out.  Solicitors are only permitted to work on a contingency fee basis in non-contentious cases, which such a case as this would certainly not be!
708951
You need to speak with an attorney who specializes in family law and preferrably has experience in handling estates as well. With your Father having no will I believe you and your sibling(s) are entitled to a portion of his estate. How much I don't know. Depending on which state you live in you may be able to find some information online. If you can tell us which State I'll help you look and post back here links that I find. \n\nI am so sorry for your loss. At 22 you shouldn't have to deal with this. \n\nIf your parents were legally separated that may be a good thing. You did mention having proof with some type of legal documentation. \n\nIf I were you I would get as much of your ducks in a row as possible before confronting your Mother. \n\nGood Luck.. I hope you are successful.\n\nBren... you don't allow email. Start here.... \n\n1-800-221-9576  It is a phone number for the Legal Consumer Guide for California. You can call them for a free consultation. It is a toll free number. They man the phones 24/7\n\nThere website is located at:\n\nhttp://www.legalconsumerguide.com/index.html\n\nClick on the Contact Us link.\n\nAnother Link that may help... http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/lowcost/lawyers.htm\n\nAlittle more information..\nhttp://www.ca-trusts.com/intestate.html
700226
I am sorry for your loss and my condolences to you and your family.As long as you or any family member has not co-signed on any of her debts the creditors will have to just eat that debt, as far as their constant harrasment you may want to provide them with a copy of the death certificate or mark the correspondence deceased return to sender and that may get most of them off your back .
704573
If the rights are revoked, he does not have to pay in MOST cases. There could be exceptions. However, the liklihood he would get your daughter, even upon your death, is small if he has had nothiong to do with her to date. You can establish gaurdianship through a lawyer more than likely.
556555
Yes they can and do all of the time. The only thing is to keep the card paid and current. My brother bought my grandmothers house and was executor of the estate. He still has her credit cards current and even her phone, the number is 50 years old. Now if you don't pay them and keep them up to date it would be a crime. The people are dead, who is going to sue you?
1072199
I'm sorry to hear about your uncle.  If you're planning to travel by plane, just call the airline you plan to use and ask if they offer bereavement rates.   I know they give pretty hefty discounts for those family members travelling to funerals.  Perhaps they do the same for those precisely in your situation.  \n\nGood luck, and God bless.
811195
If there  is no will....then no, your mother is not entitled to anything, unfortunately. \n\nWhen someone dies intestate, the estate is left to the next of kin. While it may hurt your mother, she should remember that she got the real blessing, a good friend for 12 years and the satisfaction of knowing she did the right thing and truly helped someone. Money would be nice, but I am sure that is not why your mother did what she did.\n\nPlease tell your mother she is a wonderful soul for me.
595037
Any one can contest a will.  However, my mom died about five months ago.  Because of my siblings and their hateful attitude toward me, I hadn't seen her (even though I took care of her for three years in my home -- she was paralyzed on her right side) for about 3 years.  Not one of my siblings called to tell me that she died.  I heard about it from a former classmate in high school who read it in the paper.  Then a couple weeks later I got a call from my husband's brother that he received a copy of the will from a lawyer (they didn't bother to send it to me...).  Anyway they had taken my mom to a lawyer the June before she died (she died the following March).  They had her write me out.  Big deal.  All that stuff is material and earthly goods.  It will all vanish away.  Let the will stand.  You will pay more in attorney's fees contesting the thing than just accepting what the wishes of the owner of the estate was (even if he/she was influenced by wicked people).  Leaving a child $1.00 in a will is even more heartless than leaving him/her out all together.\n\nWhy would you want to hurt someone this badly?  Unforgiveness only hurts the one who is holding the grudges.
523523
The only way I could see them not letting you use it is if it wasn't paid in full.  Contact the cemetery, ask them what it was really about.  And you have the right to copies of anything you signed.  I have never heard of that excuse before.  I doesn't matter where he lived.  Get a copy of what you signed and if you feel they were wrong get a lawyer.  That was pretty low and thoughtless of them to tell someone something like that the day of the funeral.  I am really sorry you had to go thru something like that after losing your father.  My condolences.
1172002
Ask the undertakers/funeral managers...they should know.
298975
Don't do it. You'll get sued by some "grieving" family member even if the State clears you. Sooner or later it will happen.
25842
The first place to check would be the Missouri Funeral Directors Association.  Even if that firm was not a member, they could point you in the right direction to find out what was done with the pre payment.  In many states, the prepaid funeral funds must be placed in trust so they are available even when a firm goes out of business.  I have information that shows their number as 573-635-1661\nThey are in Jefferson City.  You could also try the State Board at 573-751-0813
203554
You're either referring to "intendance", having to do with the care, handling or management of funds, or you mean "inheritance".  None the less, this individual showed immense selfishness, simply using "God" as a scape goat in order to "justify" his own actions.  All you can do at this point, is move on and take care of business.  When we lose a loved one, it's unfortunate that there are those in the family who reflect such thoughtlessness.  Very sorry to have read of the sad and frustrating time you are going through.  I would definetly avoid enabling that particular individual by giving him ANY money out of your share.  So don't use any energy towards "should we?" or "shouldn't we?".  You can certainly be there for each other without enabling anyone.  Take care, okay?  You will be fine.  Again, I'm very sorry for your loss.\nPS. PLEASE,...DON'T make your brother's failure to pay taxes ANY of YOUR concern!  It sounds as though he is "making his own bed".  You lay in YOUR own bed and let HIM lay in HIS own bed.  You're gonna have all the hair pulled out of your head by the time it's all said and done!  You don't wanna do that?!  We CANNOT make ourselves responsible for anyone elses actions.  I know you love your brother, but please remain separate from pickles that he gets himself in to.
826351
If the document your dad signed was legal, then you have a legal case.  But 2000.00 isn't very much money to start with, and a lawyer will probably cost you more than 2000.00.  \n\nYou might want to wait a little while to see how you feel before making a decision about this.  If you get involved with figuring this out now, it may temporarily distract you from the pain of losing your father, but is that what you really want?   I suggest you give yourself time to grieve and to remember things about your dad, and to spend time with your sister, etc.  I hope you and your family can find comfort in each other during this difficult time.