Both of my wife's parents died. Her dad first in January, now her mom in September. My wife is the oldest child. No will was left. What do we do? [more inside]
posted by Bageena on Nov 18, 2009 - 24 answers

Major life decisions thrown my way. Feeling totally inept at making a good decision. Any ideas on how to sort it out and get on track? [more inside]
posted by stormpooper on Sep 24, 2009 - 27 answers

We live in San Diego. We have 140k in cash after an inheritance, a mobile home we can't afford, crappy jobs, and have never had this much money ever. How do we best invest this money? [more inside]
posted by veritas on Sep 11, 2009 - 35 answers

My dad's accounts are designated POD (payable on death) to me. Is that overriden by his listing of those accounts in his total assets, which his will divides among me and others, and which will is going to take some time to execute? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 10, 2009 - 6 answers

Should I open a joint checking account with my ailing dad and his wife? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 8, 2009 - 9 answers

What's the best way to divide a large jewelry collection among 12 inheritors? [more inside]
posted by globetrotter30 on Jul 1, 2009 - 44 answers

What steps do I have to take to ensure I do not inherit anything from my family's estate, even if I'm included in the will? [more inside]
posted by medea42 on Jul 1, 2009 - 17 answers

A few months ago, my father passed away, and it turns out he has left me and my two siblings each approximately $20,000. My problem is this: I have huge unpaid medical bills from the past three years - in excess of $100,000, and they are totally in default, as my ordinary income is not quite enough for me to live on without the occasional assistance of my roommate and my siblings. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 14, 2009 - 18 answers

Inherited an acre of land. What should we do with it? [more inside]
posted by omegar on Jun 7, 2009 - 8 answers

My friend would like to know if is she is entitled to her father's and grandmother's properties, so I thought I'd submit her question to metafilter. Her father and grandmother have been deceased for several years now so she is unsure where to start looking for answers. [more inside]
posted by somas1 on May 11, 2009 - 12 answers

Tax-filter and estate-filter. I live in Ohio. The deceased lived in Ohio and gave me a certificate of deposit upon her death using a payable on death designation during 2008. I then cashed it out and placed this money in a checking account. I am not otherwise involved with the estate in any way. I have usually used "free-file" to do my taxes.

Two-part question: a) does this money count towards adjusted gross income? and if so...um... how? (I know so little about it I'm not sure what I'm asking) b) assuming my AGI is still under the $56k limit for free-file, is there any other reason why I cannot or should not do my taxes in that matter since I inherited this CD? [more inside]
posted by RobotHeart on Feb 24, 2009 - 6 answers

My father died and we have to sell his house. I'm going to be inheriting $200,000+. Realistically, what would you do in that situation? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 17, 2009 - 21 answers

My maternal great aunt's husband just died; this guy had been lying to my great aunt for years, claiming they were destitute and living off of her while squirreling away all his money. It looks like he's trying to leave everything to his son, and leave her cold; where can my mother find a good inheritance lawyer in New York City? Neither my mother nor her aunt is rich. [more inside]
posted by korpios on Oct 26, 2008 - 7 answers

How to handle a retro-reduced inheritance? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 13, 2008 - 14 answers

I recently inherited about $100k. I'm pretty dumbfounded. This is the largest amount of money I will probably ever have to figure out what do with, so I want to be safe and smart and invest in the long term. I have no debts. I'm 30 years old and single. I know no one has a crystal ball, but what are your best guesses for what I should do with this money in light of our current financial meltdown? (I haven't even deposited the check yet... my bank is Wamu and I wasn't sure if it would fold).
posted by anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 - 37 answers

Okay, so let's say you're a broke, middle-aged single female creative professional who infamously sucks with anything involving numbers. You do have expensive tastes, but you're generally quite frugal and like to shop at the 99¢ Store & swap meets. Even so, much to your own annoyance, you have just never done *well* with money when you've had it or ever done much grown up "long-term life planning"... but now you're about to come into a one-time windfall (possibly a six to seven figure sum in all). Oh Lordy. Time to grow up. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 14, 2008 - 23 answers

Can I opt out of paying income taxes on inherited retirement benefits in the USA? I won't be filing a tax return, anyway. [more inside]
posted by xanthippe on Jul 22, 2008 - 9 answers

How should we handle liquidating assets in an estate in the USA right now? Assets consist primarily of a stock portfolio and a house. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 21, 2008 - 17 answers

Inheritance issues. Grandparent passed leaving money to my dead mother. Auntie wants to keep mother's share. [more inside]
posted by Sufi on Jun 12, 2008 - 19 answers

My husband inherited his late father's gemstone collection 6 years ago, and we want to know how to sell it. Thousands of rocks and stones are in the collection, some valuable, some not. Some are labelled, some not. [more inside]
posted by wingless_angel on May 30, 2008 - 6 answers

What date acquired and cost basis should I put for two items reported on a 1099-B, when there are several unknowns? [more inside]
posted by daisyace on Apr 10, 2008 - 8 answers

How to manage an inheritance when we don' t know how responsible the person (now 18) will be? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 2, 2008 - 27 answers

My grandfather recently passed and left me as the co-owner of a house with my VERY irresponsible uncle. How can I protect myself from liability and how do / should I attempt to save my uncle from himself? What kind of professional should I talk to? [more inside]
posted by jlowen on Mar 25, 2008 - 17 answers

I'm receiving a sizable inheritance in the form of stock from a deceased relative. However, there's fairly good evidence that the person who's managed the relative's affairs all these years (due to this relative being incapable of managing their own affairs) has intentionally sold a vast majority of that stock because they didn't want to draw down their own inheritance. If I contest this, though, there's a clause in the will that cuts my inheritance to $1. Do I take the stock that's offered me, or should I risk it on recovering the rest? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 16, 2008 - 37 answers

How do I get money (30,000 Euro/$50,000) from Europe to the United States with the least amount of pain? [more inside]
posted by Grither on Feb 26, 2008 - 22 answers

I'm looking for the title and author of a certain North American Literature work with only a few details. I read it in a class called "American Realism and Naturalism" and it (the book) was dreadfully and woefully boring/hideous -- and that's coming from an English grad. [more inside]
posted by vanoakenfold on Feb 21, 2008 - 4 answers

Disentanglement filter: My girlfriend has an inheritence, which is currently in the form of a stock portfolio which in her name, but her mom's name is also on it since she was under 18 when she got the inheritance (she is 21 now). Her mom is less than reasonable, and makes threats regarding said assets, so how can she (my gf) get the stuff to just be in her name, and keep the assets safe from her mom's prying fingers? [more inside]
posted by gnomicPerfect on Jan 30, 2008 - 10 answers

A family friend recently died and left me and my sister $25,000 each. Now what? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 26, 2008 - 13 answers

Help me figure out if there's any way to claim a deceased family member's unclaimed property [more inside]
posted by mintchip on Jan 20, 2008 - 6 answers

I will soon receive an inheritance of about $100,000-$150,000 (numbers are vague right now). I'm looking for tips and advice for managing that money. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 14, 2008 - 16 answers

Inheritance question: what can you do when a parent backs away from a signed agreement to distribute funds? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 24, 2007 - 32 answers

I owe about $40K and just inherited $20K. Invest or pay down debt? [more inside]
posted by raider on Dec 15, 2007 - 42 answers

Is it possible to legally declare someone your next of kin or the equivalent? I know that you can make a will for estates, and medical care proxies and the like, but next of kin make decisions about funeral arrangements and other issues and I'm not sure how to go about covering all the miscellaneous bases out there. I'm in the US/NYS, gathering info before talking to a lawyer about specifics.
posted by voidcontext on Dec 12, 2007 - 14 answers

How do I handle inheritance by proxy? It will actually be a gift from a parent out of the inheritance from a grandparent. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 19, 2007 - 13 answers

My mother passed away in 2003 and 3 of us siblings split the estate. Fast forward to 2007, when we are contacted by EquiSearch.net, who claims there is over $2,500 in unclaimed assets in mom’s name. EquiSearch, of course, would be thrilled to help us get this money but will take 35% of the proceeds for their trouble. How can we find this asset ourselves? We aren't aware of any stock, insurance, bank, or other accounts but apparently there was one. If there is an option that doesn't require the huge percentage fee (like a flat rate fee from another company) what is it? I would strongly prefer to avoid doing business with EquiSearch. Thanks for your help!
posted by phildog on Aug 1, 2007 - 14 answers

Calling all aunts, uncles and parents: Need recommendations on teddy bears that can handle a LOT of love from a child and can be passed on later to the next generation [more inside]
posted by jadepearl on Jul 24, 2007 - 18 answers

My wife and her three siblings have decided to re-invest the money they have received from the sale of their deceased mother's stake in a Cancun vacation home. They want to purchase another vacation home with the money. Together. [more inside]
posted by notyou on Apr 17, 2007 - 12 answers

Please help me make a proposal to my family about the fate of my parents’ home that is equitable and reasonable and doesn’t make me seem like a greedy jerkface. [more inside]
posted by tristeza on Apr 6, 2007 - 24 answers

How do I find a gay financial planner who is in (or accessible to) Manhattan (NYC), has inheritance, tax, and foreign country experience, and speaks Spanish? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Mar 2, 2007 - 6 answers

British Inheritance Tax question: help me foil a dying man's wishes. [more inside]
posted by greytape on Sep 24, 2006 - 8 answers

I have a surprise chance to pay off my student loans (!), so how do I go about doing this in the way that's best for me? My "more inside" has a few details about possibilities / ideas. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 1, 2006 - 19 answers

How should I spend my inheritance? [more inside]
posted by greta simone on Aug 8, 2006 - 49 answers

I am Inheriting $100,000.00. I recently learned I have a CD with my name on it as the sole "POD" (Payable On Death) beneficiary. I have a basic understanding of personal finance and investing. I am married, 39 years old with one child. I'm really a little lost with this. I've been told a hundred grand is not enough to tweak the interest of a financial adviser. Do MeFites have any ideas on how to invest $100,000.00? Should it be Stocks? CDs? Mutual Funds? I would welcome any and all advice - including a sample portfolio if you so desire. Thank you!
posted by Gerard Sorme on Apr 2, 2006 - 39 answers

Anyone know California probate laws. Heres a question. My father passed away with no will leaving me, and his other son as sole beneficiaries. However I was adopted by my step dad when I was 8(I'm 30 now) I guess he had a drug problem and couldn't do the dad thing. I did live with him as a baby, and my biological mom was married to the guy who adopted me. So do I still have claim to half the estate????????Only thing I found is probate code 6450, but not quite sure if it applies. I called a couple attorneys but they wanted $$ for consultation
posted by highgene on Jan 11, 2006 - 8 answers

What is the proper etiquette for dealing with my deceased Mom’s jewelry? [more inside]
posted by Tallguy on Dec 16, 2005 - 33 answers

Expat American hates money, inherits share of house, perhaps $100,000. Do I need an accountant, a lawyer or something else to advise? [more inside]
posted by planetkyoto on Dec 2, 2005 - 12 answers

Is it overly-morbid to thank a (still-living) relative for including you in their will? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 23, 2005 - 6 answers

Estate Tax Filter
I've been trying to figure out how much someone can inherit before having to pay a whole mess of taxes on the money. I've been trying to use the IRS Estate and Gift Tax page but am just as confused as before. Can anyone help me out?
posted by fenriq on Feb 7, 2005 - 7 answers

Are there any circumstances under which adult children become responsible for a parent's debts? [more inside]
posted by widdershins on Oct 28, 2004 - 4 answers