Wills Flashcards
When do intestate succession rules apply?
- when D left no will
- When D’s will is denied probate
- When D left an incomplete disposition of his estate
Surviving Spouse share: survived by kid shared with surviving spouse
SS inherits first $150k plus 1/2 any balance of the estate. Remaining 1/2 passes to D’s descendants
Surviving Spouse share: none of D’s kids are also SS’s kids
SS inherits first $100k plus 1/2 any balance of the estate. Remaining half passes to D’s descendants
Surviving Spouse share: no children, but parents
SS inherits first $150k plus 3/4 balance. Remaining 1/4 goes to the parents
Surviving Spouse share: no children and no parents
SS gets the entire estate
Can surviving spouse waive their right to the intestate share?
Yes. in whole or in part. either by written contract or waiver after full disclosure. Can be before or during the marriage
People who are not considered Surviving Spouse
- divorced person
- person who has a divorce not recognized in MI
- if there was a defective divorce, and person remarries
- Person living in bigamous relationship at time of D’s death
- one who for more than one year before D’s death deserted D or was wilfully absent/ refused to support.
Intestate share of descendants
Take per capita at each generation. Each living person at the 1 st generation takes a share. Shares of deceased persons at that level are combined and then divided equally among the takers at the next gen level.
What if D has a surviving spouse and no children?
remainder of estate goes to parents.
Natural parents inherit intestate only if
they openly treated child as their own and have not refused to support the child
What if D has no surviving spouse, parent, or children?
Passes to siblings who take per capita at each generation
What if D has no surviving spouse, no children, no parents and no sibling?
1/2 passes to maternal grandparents or their descendants and 1/2 passes to paternal grandparents or their descendants.
What if D has no surviving grandparents or grand parents descendants?
The entire estate esheats to the state.
Intestacy and adopted children
inherit through and from the adopting parents as though they were natural child.
Intestacy and Step and foster children
Stepchildren and foster children have no inheritance rights from stepparent and foster parent
Adoption by estoppel doctrine
if stepparent or foster parent obtained custody of child based on promise to adopt the child and didn’t do it, child is entitled to inherit as if they wer adopted
Child conceived during marriage
both spouses are presumed to be the natural parents
nonmarital child’s rights as to mother
full inheritance rights from his mother
nonmarital child’s rights as to father
Nonmarital child inherits from natural father only if:
- Father married mother after birth
- F & M made a written and acknowledged statement of paternity
- F &M requested a birth certificate be changed to reflect father
- Father and child mutually acknowledged the relationship before child was 18 and continued until death of either
- Man was adjudicated to be father
- court determines he is father under Paternity act
What state’s law governs whether child is entitled to inherit from father?
law of the situs of the property
Reproductive technology kid
child conceived this way where W has consent of husband is the husband’s child. Consent of H is presumed
Child born after death
Takes under the intestacy if lives for at least 120 hours
Negative Bequest Rule
MI statute allows a will to expressly exclude or limit the right of a person or class to succeed to property that passes intestate.
Common problems: 120 hours rule
A person must survive D by 120 hours to take under a will or by intestacy. Can have contrary will provision. If person doesnt survive the 120 hours treat as if predeceased D. Does not apply if the result would be escheat
Can you disclaim an interest?
Yes, under intestacy and under will.
What is the result if a person disclaims their interest?
Treat as if the person predeceased D. If disclaim a lifetime gift, interest passes as though disclaimant died at time transfer was made.
Can you disclaim a life estate or a survivorship?
yes.
Procedure to disclaim
must
- be in writing
- describe property or interest
- be signed and delivered.
- If real prop = record in register of deeds
Time limit to disclaim
There isn’t one in MI. Right is barred if the B or heir has accepted property or any of its benefits, mortgaged or assigned the interest or signed a waiver of right to disclaim. Disclaimer that is filed is irrevocable.
Can a disclaimer be use to defeat creditor’s claim
Yes. but cannot be used to defeat a federal tax lien.
Forfeiture of interest by mistreatment of D
An heir or B who feloniously and intentionally kills the D or is guilty of abuse, neglect or exploitation forfeits all interest in D’s estate. Can sever the survivorship and estate turns into a tenancy in common
Proving forfeiture of interest by mistreatement
conviction is conclusive. Absent final judgment, Court may determine by POE
Advancement: definition
lifetime gift made to an heir with the intent that the gift be applied against any inherited share
Advancement: proof
No gift is considered an advancemnt unless the intetntion is declared in a competent writing by the donor and acknowledged by the donee
Advancement: procedure if advancement is found
Amount advanced is added to the net value of estate to compute intestate shares and advancee has his amount reduced. Look to time that granteee came into possession or D’s death whichever is first. if donee dies before D the gift is non-binding.
Satisfaction of legacies
Lifetime gift to Beneficiary is not treated as satisfaction unless intention is in contemporaneous writing or will expressly states
Does a will need to dispose of property to be a will?
no
what is a codicil?
supplement to will that alters, amends or modifies the will
Testamentary intent
established by extrinsic evidence. T must PRESENTLY intend the instrument to operate as a will.
Formal requisites of a will: list them
- signed by T
- signed by 2 witnesses
- witnesses signed within a reasonable time after witnessesing either T’s signing or T’s acknowledgement of signature or will
Formal requisites of a will: T’s signature
T may be assisted. Any mark that T intends to be a signature will do. Order of signing not important
Formal requisites of a will: W must sign within a reasonable time
W must witness either 1. T signing 2. T acknowledging will or 3. T acknowledging signature
Does an attested will need to be dated?
No. Holographic will does though
Attestation clause
Recites the reqs of a duly executed will. Can prove due execution instead of requiring W’s testimony.
Self proved will by affidavit
Affidavit recites all of the elements of proof that Ws would testify to. T and w’s swear to the affidavit in front a notary public
Self-proved will by unsworn written statement
written statement states the facts regarding formalities of the will (or references the attestation clause by incorporation) T and the witnesses sign the statement and date it. Statement must “certify by penalty of perjury” that the statement is true.
When will a Will from another JD be allowed into probate in MI?
if it is in writing and in accordance with
- MI law
- Law of the state where it was executed or
- law of the place where T was domiciled when executed or when T died.
MI Dispensing Power Statute
Will that is not executed in full compliance will be treated as validly executed if the proponent establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the D intended it to be a will.
Validity of holographic wills
- material portions must be in T’s handwriting
2. must be signed and dated
Are oral wills recognized?
no
Attorney liability for negligent will preparation
duty extends to client and to Bs. Absent ambiguity or inconsistency in the will, extrinsic evi is not admissible to show that T’s intent was different than the will says. an estate has no standing to bring cause of action for negligence
Revocation of wills
person with testamentary intent can revoke a will at any time. even if they contracted not to revoke the will.
Omitted spouse statute
If a person marries after executing a will and spouse survives the takes an intestate share of the estate other than the property devised to a child from before the marriage.
Omitted spouse statute: when is spouse not entitled to intestate share
- if it appears the will was made in contemplation of marriage
- the will expresses intent that it remains in effect despite the marriage
- or T provided for spouse by transfer outside of the will
Omitted spouse statute: assets from which the share is satisfied
Abatement rules apply. Residue first, general gifts abate pro rata, specific devises abate last
Effect of divorce or annulment
Revokes all revocable dispositions and fiduciary appointments of former spouse and relatives. Read as if former spouse disclaimed. Does not effect beneficiary designation under ERISA. Severs survivorship rights so they become tenants in common
Omitted Child Statute: when applicable
Applies to children born after will. Does not apply if it appears from the will that omission was intentional or T provided for child with transfer outside the will. Applies if parent mistakenly thought child was dead.