Questions answered by Ruth Elaine McMahon

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In Louisiana, if a woman wrote a will from a different state and gets divorced after then passes away is the will still good?

Ruth's answer | Answered on September 26, 2012

When a person divorces, the divorced spouse is excluded from being a beneficiary. If your mother passed away in 2009, it's a bit late to be doing...

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Would the will and beneficiary of the ira go to my sons. Or would my new husband be abe to claim it?

Ruth's answer | Answered on September 26, 2012

If the beneficiary designation on the IRA are your sons, it should go to them However, if the retirement account is a 401(k) or some other type of...

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How can I protect my newly purchased home from my soon to be ex and her lawyer? Home Stead Act? Trust?

Ruth's answer | Answered on September 26, 2012

I assume that if you are going through a divorce, you have your own lawyer. You should consult with him or her. Quitclaiming real property will NOT...

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If my spouse & I assume different households, can we legally divide financial assets, ie IRAs & other investments?

Ruth's answer | Answered on September 26, 2012

Most likely, most of the assets could be split. We often split assets by using trusts, but it can be done in other ways. However, an IRA is a...

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My wife's mother had a trust that left here some property along with her brother the brother has been acting as execector.

Ruth's answer | Answered on September 26, 2012

The answer to this question should be found in the trust document that was created for the benefit of your wife. You wife should have been provided...

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I need to know how i can get custody of family members? Where do i start and what do i need to go through?

Ruth's answer | Answered on September 24, 2012

If your grandmother has legal guardianship of your cousins, there should be a court file in the county in which she resides. Custody is a family...

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Can my sister refuse to give me a copy of my fathers trust?

Ruth's answer | Answered on September 24, 2012

If you and your brother believe that your father was unduly influenced by your sister and that he is easily manipulated or in danger of...

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Do I add my half brother and half sister as decenants to mother's probate papers. She did not adopt them.

Ruth's answer | Answered on September 24, 2012

If your half brother and half sister are not related to your mother by blood or adoption, they are not interested parties to a probate and do not...

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My wife's father passed away without a will and left savings bonds how does she cash them in?

Ruth's answer | Answered on September 24, 2012

Unless the bonds were issued in joint name or in the name of your wife's father in law specifying rights of survivorship, the bonds are probate...

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My father died and was never legally remarried. I found out a few years ago that my mother was receiving a check from him SSI am

Ruth's answer | Answered on September 24, 2012

A former spouse can receive Social Security after a deceased former spouse passes away so long as he or she is not married. Unless you are...

Ruth Elaine McMahon's Answers (5791)

In Louisiana, if a woman wrote a will from a different state and gets divorced after then passes away is the will still good?

Would the will and beneficiary of the ira go to my sons. Or would my new husband be abe to claim it?

How can I protect my newly purchased home from my soon to be ex and her lawyer? Home Stead Act? Trust?

If my spouse & I assume different households, can we legally divide financial assets, ie IRAs & other investments?

My wife's mother had a trust that left here some property along with her brother the brother has been acting as execector.

I need to know how i can get custody of family members? Where do i start and what do i need to go through?

Can my sister refuse to give me a copy of my fathers trust?

Do I add my half brother and half sister as decenants to mother's probate papers. She did not adopt them.

My wife's father passed away without a will and left savings bonds how does she cash them in?

My father died and was never legally remarried. I found out a few years ago that my mother was receiving a check from him SSI am