If Mediation Fails in a Missouri Partition or Probate Dispute: Do You Still Need Court?
What to Expect After a Failed Mediation in a Missouri Partition or Probate Dispute Detailed answer When mediation does not produce a settlement in a Missouri partition or probate dispute, you very often will need to turn to the courts to resolve the disagreement. Mediation in Missouri is generally non‑binding unless the parties sign a […]
Read article →How to Open Probate in Missouri from Out of State
Detailed Answer If your sibling died owning property or accounts in Missouri and you live in another state, you can still open probate in Missouri. Probate matters are handled by the circuit (probate) court in the Missouri county where the decedent was domiciled at death. The basic steps are the same whether you live in […]
Read article →Settling a Parent’s Estate in Missouri and Handling Property in Another State
Disclaimer This is general information and not legal advice. I am not a lawyer. For advice about your specific situation, consult a Missouri-licensed probate attorney and, if the other state is involved, an attorney licensed in that state. Detailed Answer When a parent dies with assets in Missouri and also owns property in another state, […]
Read article →How to File and Record a Deed After a Spouse’s Death in Missouri
Detailed Answer Short answer: The exact steps depend on how title to the property was held when your wife died. Common paths are (1) a survivorship title (joint tenancy or tenancy by the entirety), (2) a transfer-on-death or beneficiary deed (if one exists), or (3) the property being solely in the decedent’s name, which normally […]
Read article →Missouri: Should You Use a Transfer‑on‑Death Deed or Payable‑on‑Death Designation if Your Will Leaves Everything to Your Daughter?
Short answer No. A will controls only assets that pass through probate. If an asset already has a non‑probate transfer method — for example, a transfer‑on‑death (TOD) deed for real estate or a payable‑on‑death (POD) designation on a bank account — that asset passes outside probate to the named beneficiary regardless of what your will […]
Read article →Missouri: Can I Require a Co‑Heir to Reimburse an Appraisal Before an Estate Buyout?
Short answer You can sometimes require a co‑heir to reimburse you for an appraisal used to set the buyout price, but whether you can force reimbursement depends on (1) any written agreement between the heirs or the estate representative, (2) whether the estate is in probate and who is authorized to incur estate expenses, and […]
Read article →How to Put a Deceased Parent’s House in You and Your Siblings’ Names — Missouri
Detailed Answer Short answer: In Missouri, if your parent died without a will (intestate), real property normally must be transferred through the probate process so title can be placed in the names of the heirs. Which heirs inherit and how the transfer happens depend on who survives the decedent and how the property was titled. […]
Read article →Taking Over a Deceased Parent’s Mortgage in Missouri
Detailed Answer This explains, under Missouri practice, what typically needs to happen if you want to keep your deceased parent’s house and the mortgage that secures it. This is educational information only and not legal advice. For any binding action, talk with a licensed Missouri attorney or the lender. 1) Who owns the house now? […]
Read article →Proving Parentage for Inheritance in Missouri
Detailed Answer — How to establish parentage for inheritance under Missouri law This explains practical ways to establish that a decedent was your parent when their name does not appear on your birth certificate. Under Missouri law, a person who is a child of the decedent can inherit as an heir once parentage is legally […]
Read article →How to Protect an Inheritance in Missouri When an Estate Is Contested
Detailed Answer This section explains practical steps you can take under Missouri law to protect an inheritance when a family member contests an estate. It covers how probate works, common legal grounds for contests, immediate protective steps, long-term planning options that reduce the risk of a successful contest, and what to expect during litigation or […]
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