If my father died intestate, what are my rights to inherit from his estate?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
If my father died intestate, what are my rights to inherit from his estate?
He set up a Trust leaving 95% of his assets to me but that Trust was revoked when my parents divorced. He died without a Will, which means if I open an intestate probate I should get half of the remaining assets. However, my brother, who was the power of attorney for him while he was alive, decided to designate himself the sole beneficiary of all remaining assets, which was a little over $200,000. It is possible that my brother might have a signed document naming him the sole beneficiary with the bank but I doubt it. Which rules — laws of intestacy or the POD beneficiary established by a brother who used bullying to influence a man with dementia into excluding his daughter. Should I open a probate to get half the money?
Asked on February 14, 2016 under Estate Planning, Florida
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
d on what you write, your brother has seemingly violated the law and you could bring a legal action for your share of the estate--and possibly file criminal charges, too. A power of attorney is NOT a will and does not give the person with the power (called an "attorney in fact") the right to dispose of his principal's (the person giving him the power) assets after death. ONLY will can dispose of the assets of the estates, and the attorney-in-fact may not retain or take any assets not given him by a will or, if no will, instestate succession. Also, since a POA gives the attorney-in-fact the right to act for the principal, that power dies when the principal passes away: a deceased person can no longer act, and so has no power to give to his attorney-in-fact.
It is possible that while your father was alive, your brother trasferred certain assets to his own name; such transfers *may* be legal if they were within the scope of the power *and* were done in your father's interests or in accordance with his wishes. However, acts done against your father's wishes are void, and those done against his interests would likely be in breach of the attorney-in-fact's fiduciary duty, or duty of loyalty to his principal, and so may be void, too.
d on what you write, there is reason to think something wrong was done here. You should consult with an attorney about your options to challenge your brother's actions, unless you value family harmony more than the money or principle at stake.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.