Estate Planning USA.com

I asked this question in personal finance but wanted to post it here as well.My mother in law put my husband on her checking and savings accounts years ago.She has another son,but he is violent and could not be trusted with money.My mother in law passed away in August.We took her will to probate and the clerk told us the bank account was not part of the estate because my husbands name was on the checks and there were no beneficiaries.We went to the bank and they gave my husband a cashiers check for the money.Well,now the brother is saying he has a right to know what was in her account and has hired a lawyer.He has threatened us and says he plans on making our lives a living he**.Can he make us share that money with him?We have already spent most of it,my mother in law wanted my husband to have the money-she wanted us to be able to pay or mortgage-which is what we did.Has anyone else dealt with something like this?Thanks
Also the bank account was not listed in the will.

I have both a law degree and real estate brokerage. I just finished law school and what I am planning on doing is specializing in estate planning (drafting living trusts, etc.), but also assisting my clients with their real estate needs such as listing and selling their homes, etc. In the part of the country where I live (San Francisco) Real Estate brokerage commisions are still very substantial, and in fact, I would venture to say that I would probably make more money through my real estate services than my legal services if I offered a "one stop shop" sort of business where people go to me for both legal and real estate advice. My question is, how feasible would it be to combine an estate planning legal practice with a Real Estate brokerage servie? Has anyone ever known of an attorney who also did Real Estate on the side? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciate

I would prefer to help individuals with things like retirement, investing, and estate planning, etc. rather than dealing in corporate finance.

I would also like to stay in my hometown, where there are not many corporate headquarters.

However, I have read that CFP jobs basically boil down to sales jobs. And I do not like making sales. I would not mind recommending a good product to a client; but I’ve also read that alot of CFP jobs are commission-based and often require hunting down possible clients.

So, my question is, is there any way to use a CFP that doesn’t require so much entrepreneurship (and finding one’s own clients, etc.)? Do banks in non-major towns ever hire CFPs and the like to give their clients retirement advice, etc.? Is there such a thing as a CFP that’s more than just a salesperson? Is there any use for a CFA where there are no corporate headquarters? Considering the information I provided above, which certification would work best for me, and how might I use it?

I am thinking about teaming up with a lawyer to handle the business end of estate dispositions, effectively becoming the business person who handles the tedious process of speaking with estate sales professiobnals, real estate brokers and the like to cost-effectively liquidate assets and complete all of the appropriate forms to file with the surrogate court (under the supervision of a licensed attorney, of course), I think this could be a great business with the baby boomers starting to die-off in droves. Thoughts? Suggestions?

Please do not respond that I should not be giving legal advice. THAT IS NOT THE PLAN.

idea is to enable small investor to invest in rented real estate so he can earn regular income and also take Advantage of value increase.

I need to know the laws that govern the property distributions in Bangalore. I immigrated to US in 1970s married an engineer later became a citizen solely to help my family. I helped my 2 unmarried brothers, married sister and my parents to immigrate to USA. My brothers were not educated however because of the immigrant visa they came and started working one brother is an accountant and another calls himself software engineer who never finished 12th standard in India. Because of the immigrant visa they married professionals doctors at my suggestion. I was glad to help my family and my husband helped me to support my 2 brothers for 7 years or so. When they got married they moved out.

My parents married me at age 17 to my husband who was 32. My husband died 10 years ago and I have 3 children. Neither my parents nor my brothers or sister came to my aid even though every one is financially secure. They stopped calling in fear I might ask them for financial assistance. I own my house in US with over $350,000 mortgage because of my children’s education.

On my recent trip to India after 22 years, I found out my father has transferred 2 real estate parcels to both of my brothers. Both are valued at over Rs.100,000,000. One parcel is located in Jayanagar which my elder brother had it as joint ownership with my father. Then his wife and himself contributed monies to construct a house which is rented now and later the land was gifted to my brother and registered. Rent is being collected and deposited into my brother and sister-in-laws account. My father was to receive 50% of rent and my brother 50%. since the transfer my brother has not paid my father any money.

The other parcel located in Rajajinagar consists of a large home (which my parents live in) and 2 rental units earning Rs. 12,000 and commercial rent long lease of 10,000(Reliance tower). This property currently in my mother’s name who has 6th grade education who plans on leaving it to my younger brother. My younger brother has numerous other properties in Bangalore and in US. He does not need the money. When he visits India he primarily stays with his in-laws and visits my parents for few hours. My parents are from old school and claim they can do what they want with their property.

My parents had asked me to sign a paper saying that I did not have any claim to the property approximately 15 years back, which I had refused. My sister signed the paper as well as my 2 brothers. My father worked for PWD - with LCE as an engineer with my mother never working or inheriting any property. My father received distribution from a property from my grandmother which was split between my father and his older brother. My brothers have not contributed any financial assistance to my parents in acquiring either of the properties.

At present my mother is 77 and my father 80 live by themselves. Since I am a widow with 3 children I wanted to move back to India and take care of them. Since all my siblings are with their spouse who is working they do not have any intention of living with my parents at this time.

I have contributed financially, emotionally and physically living with my siblings and caring for them. They never contributed any emotional or moral support or any financial assistance to me while my husband was bed ridden for 4 years. I have helped my parents with my sister’s wedding, contributed jewelry clothing and other expenses. No one ever compensated me for anything including immigration expenses. I was unlucky to be part of this ungrateful family. However, I am in the process of seeking legal assistance to see if there is any chance for me to get some financial settlement from my parent’s inheritance.

I thought Hindu laws dictate that daughters are entitled to fair share. Does my children have any rights to this property? Please advise.

P9-1A

Elbert Company was organized on January 1. During the first year of operations, the following plant asset expenditures and receipts were recorded in random order.

Debits
1.Cost of real estate purchased as a plant site (land $255,000 and building $25,000)$280,000
2.Installation cost of fences around property6,800
3.Cost of demolishing building to make land suitable for construction of new building24,000
4.Excavation costs for new building23,000
5.Accrued real estate taxes paid at time of purchase of real estate2,179
6.Cost of parking lots and driveways29,000
7.Architect’s fees on building plans33,000
8.Real estate taxes paid for the current year on land5,800
9.Full payment to building contractor
640,000

$1,043,779

Credits
10.Proceeds for salvage of demolished building
$8,000

Analyze the transactions using the table column headings provided here. Enter the amounts in the appropriate columns. (If answer is zero, please enter 0, do not leave any fields blank. If amount decreases total use either a negative sign preceding the number, e.g. -45 or parenthesis, e.g. (45).)

ItemLandBuildingOther Accounts
1.$$$
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Total
$

$

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My friend has a House in another State. Her tenants aren’t paying rent on time. She also has a 20,000 student loan to pay off. She still has to pay for rent here in TX. I don’t won’t her to lose her house to forclosure. I asked how are you paying for all of this. She is a Real Estate Agent and the market requires dues and fees. She is planning to move back to her House. She said lately she has been Flipping Bills. What did she mean by Flipping Bills?

I a homebuyer and am not working with an agent. I find homes on line & contact the listing agent to arrange viewing. I contacted "Mary" about a 2bdm condo. I told her I was not working with an agent. She arranged for me to see her unit (never met me…she already had the building concierge set up with a key to the unit, and he gave me the key). 2 weeks later, I called Mary to tell her I wanted to take a second look at the unit. she again arranged for the concierge to give me the key. She asked if I was interested in a 3-bdm unit in the same building. I was. She indicated the unit would not be listed for another month. She arranged for the trustee of the estate who was managing the unit, to meet me and show it to me. I ended up loving the unit and I plan to buy it. The trustee indicated that she had no agreement with Mary and was under no-obligation to her. Mary will perform no services of any kind for me. How much (percentage) should I give Mary for telling me about the unit?

After four years of living and working in America, my marriage has broken down and I will soon be getting a divorce and returning to England and plan to take up living and working in London again. I am okay with looking for work when I get back as I have a targeted area of work, but would like assistance with finding an affordable studio or one-bedroom flat in a safe area. Does anyone know of any agencies in the London area (besides the obvious estate agents) that specialize in finding affordable flats and do the work for you, finding exactly what you are looking for (I expect to pay a fee for such a service)?
I am looking to rent and by affordable I mean 1,000 - 1,500 a month.