Wills

Dear Len & Rosie,

My father made out his will. Don't all three of his children get a copy of it? My sister has my father's power of attorney and she is the executor of his estate, but she won't let my brother or I see a copy of his will or a list of his monthly expenses. She says that only she should know about father's money and what is in his will. I DO NOT trust her or her husband. Please tell me who is right - Her or me? I want, at least, to see his will and have a copy.

Jean
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Written by Len Tillem On Tagged

Joint Property

Dear Len & Rosie,

My wife and I and our daughter bought a home in Goleta, near Santa Barbara. Our daughter has lived there ever since. She has paid rent to us for her use of our half of the property. We purposefully kept this rent low so that it was just enough to cover the mortgage.

Late last year, we agreed to a refinance and take $40,000 of our equity out of the home. Because escrow was closing while my wife and I were visiting our son in Portland, we authorized the title company to cut a single check to our daughter for the entire amount. Our daughter agreed to put our $20,000 share in our bank account using a deposit slip which we gave to her.

She now refuses to give us our half of the money. Her reasons are complicated and somewhat emotional. We have tried repeatedly to talk to her, but we have had only one telephone conversation, which was not very helpful.

We are reluctant to seek an attorney because of the costs, both in money and in emotional terms; and also because we feel there is still hope that we can resolve this problem. However, she still refuses to give us our share of the money.

Russell
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Written by Len Tillem On Tagged