Posted: 2/12/2026 11:22:27 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Tirador223][Edited]
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I had an elderly aunt in Minnesota who passed away recently. I don’t have any interest in what she left behind, but I am interested that the aunts three children act in a fair and legal manner and not create permanent bad feelings in what little family I have. Here in Virginia, somebody is named executor of an estate and has to qualify to perform that job and actually takes an oath to that effect. The executor gets rid of the stuff, opens a bank account, disperses any money, and files a final report for the Commissioner of Accounts. It is all reviewed and controlled. Up in Minnesota, my cousins have in effect invited anybody who wants anything to come over after the funeral and loot the house. Nobody has appeared identified as executor. Nobody knows how much money is involved. Now, the question is for Minnesotans - are things different from where I am to MN? I feel like my family is getting ready to screw around where the estate will be at least delayed in getting straightened out because of their stupidity or ignorance. Will they blunder through? Your thoughts appreciated. |
Never ask a man if he is from Virginia. If he is, he'll tell you. If he isn't, you don't want to embarrass him.
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Thank you for the response. I was in Minnesota this whole weekend for the funeral, and I have to say when you’re standing outside in the snow in a crowd of Minnesotans and even they are overheard complaining about being cold, well, for this Virginia type it was kind of gratifying. Anyhow, I don’t know if there is a trust involved, but do know the executor lives in Alabama. This seems like a mistake to me, but when asked about it I am going to do that Homer Backs Through Hedge retreat. Family is funny and this one seems to have a hair trigger. |
Never ask a man if he is from Virginia. If he is, he'll tell you. If he isn't, you don't want to embarrass him.
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You only have to go into probate if there's more than $75K in assets that don't directly transfer (ie, a house that was in multiple names will go directly to the other titled owners and isn't considered as part of the estate) The same with CDs and insurance policies that have named benefactors. Don't do probate. It's more expensive and opens the estate up to every Tom, Dick, and Harry who thinks they have a claim. If the assets are less than $75K you can do a small estate form. Nothing is published and any creditors can basically go pound sand. |