Wills & Elder Care

1. T = 18

2. signed by T' (or at his direction)

3. 2 Witnesses

- Witnesses must sign in T's consciouse presence (one contemporaneous transaction)

- T doesn't have to sign in W's presence

- W doesn't have to sign in other W's presence and doesn't have to know signing a Will

1. 1 of the witnesses

2. or 2 W's as to signature of T

1. residency; if no residency

2. where property located or where died

1. can exmaine w/o court orer w/ bank official by SS, executor, or child over 18

2. deliver Will to Executor or Court

Does not invalidate, but bequest is invalid, unless:

1. W proved w/o interested W testimony;

2. corroborated by T' of disinterested person; or

3. if W is an heir under intestacy, takes lesser of bequest and intestacy amount

1. wholly in handwriting

2. signed ("I, Joe" counts as signature)

3. intent (evidence allowed to prove)

- can have holographic codicil to typed will

- intent must be to take effect at death

1. last sickness

2. at home or if not at home, doesn't return home

3. personal property only

4. if more thatn $30, then need 3 Witnesses

1. written, signed, notary

2. w/in 9 months of death

3. filed w/ court (copy to rep)

4. can be partial

5. executor/g' can disclaim; parent can not for minor

lifetime gift not advancement unless:

1. declares at tiem of gift, in writing

2. acknowledged by donee in writing

Later married: doesn't affect (b/c homestead, CP, allowance protects SS)

Later divorced: ex-spouse treated as predeceased

1. by subsequent instrument

2. physical act

3. presumed revoked if in T's possession and can't find

4. no "partial revocation" (can't cross out lines)

1. duly executed

2. overcome presumption of revocation

3. contests proved by someone who read or heard will

1. words added/changed = ignored

2. if "I want X to take Z instead of A" + signed = valid

3. "$5k, date, Mary" = not valid

4. unless these changes are to holographic Will and 2 persons testify towards handwriting!

1. no revival by terminating subsequent Will

2. unless: execute codicil to prior Will

1. specific: my car to Y

2. demonstrative: $25k from sale of exxon to X

3. general: $25k to X

4. residue

5. intestacy

• 1. intestacy
• 2. residue - personal property
• 3. residue - real

4. general - personal property

5. general - real

6. specific (demonstrative) - personal property

7. specific (demonstrative) - real

(demonstrative not in statute; treated like specific. this is not example of I give exxon stock in estate to...)

from all of estate - probate and non-probate

• 1. "Exxon stock to Joe" - if Exxon stock not in estate
• = Joe gets nothing

• 2. "proceeds of exxon stock" and no exxon stock in estate,
• = if traceable at death, Joe gets proceeds (but not insurance proceeds)

• 3. Demonstrative - "$25k from exxon stock"
• = doesn't matter where exxon stock is; Joe gets $25K!

- if not in estate = ademption (gets nada)

• - if split and there are 200 since execution
• = X gets all 200

It's not specific, so

= X gets value of 100 shares of stock!

1. B is descendant of T's Parents; and

• - if B not survived by descendants, gift falls to residue
• - "if he survives me" = anti-lapse does not apply
• -

Gift to A,B, C and only A,B suvive = 1/2 to A; 1/2 to B

• class gift rules:
• - class closes at Ts death
• - compare: if to A,B and C the kids of my friend, then if C fails to survive, then 1/3A; 1/3B and 1/3 lapses

• children: A and B
• A has 2 kids
• B has 1 kid

= each child takes 1/2

• children: A and B
• A has 2 kids
• B has 1 kid

• = A's children take 1/2
• = B's child takes 1/2

- texas intestacy

• Per Capita at First level;
• By representation at Second level

• = A's kids take 1/2
• = B takes 1/2

Each grandchild takes 1/5

(b/c that is the "first level" now)

Class of class gift closes when some class member is entitled to a distribution (for outright gifts, this = at Ts death)

takes as "child" under Will, but not intestacy

named B was dead at time will was executed =

If class member was dead at time of Will, then anti-lapse does not apply

adopted child inherits from parents; and parents inherit from adopted child

• - applies in intestacy and in Will
• - but: if Will includes "if he survives me" not 120 rule (only needs to survive by any amount of time and would then pass via beneficiary's Will or his intestate succession)

H treated as survived W; and

applies to Life insurance

- child takes intestate share of all property not bequethed to other parent of child

Child takes intestate share of all property not bequethed to other parent of child

child's share is limited to the gifts to such other children (kids A and B split their share w/ C; no other beneficiary's gift is reduced)

limited to their share.

A gets Blackacre; B gets $90k; C is pretermitted


= C gets 1/3 Blackacre and $30k

Statute does not apply if:

outright - 3 years

trust - 5 years

non-exempt property disposed of (divided by) monthly medicaid cost

ex: $400k property (divded by) $4k month cost

disqualified for medicaid for 100 months

put income in trust, must pay back gov't upon death

must be over 65?

remainder to remaindermen

put assets in trust,

pay back gov't at death

remainder to remaindermen

pooled income charitable trust

a Supplemental Needs Trust that is managed by a Non- for-profit organization

$2,022.00 a month income

$2,000 / individual

$3,000 / married (both spouses in nursing home)

Homestead - If the spouse or certain dependent relatives continue to reside in the home, it is excluded.

• Also, if the applicant intends to return to the home, the home is excluded. However, a person
• who is eligible for Medicaid benefits in Texas may not exclude a home in another state.

Estate Recovery: Without proper planning, a nursing home resident may not be able to leave their home to their family, but instead their heirs may have to sell the home to repay the state for the amount of Medicaid benefits received.

• Vehicle - One vehicle is excluded if its current retail
• value is $4,500.00 or less. However, the value of a vehicle used for medical purposes at least four times per year is unlimited. In some
• cases, another vehicle may be exempt

• Life Insurance -total face value of all of the
• policies is equal to or less than $1500.00,

Burial Funds and Prepaid Funeral Contracts - Up to $10,000 of an irrevocable burial contract

• Properly Structured Immediate Annuities - Assets placed into a properly structured Medicaid Friendly Annuity are excluded assets. There
• are several requirements when applying for Medicaid benefits that must be met in order for the assets placed into the annuity to be excluded.

$109,560

H/W: Divide in 1/2. W can only keep up to $109,560. Everything in excess must be considered Hs and he must plan accordingly/spend down

Can go to court to raise

H/W: Divide in 1/2. W must have at least $21,912. If less, then H gives her an amount so that she has $21,912

ex. $30,000 between them

She has $15,000 and then H gives her $6,912. H plans accordingly with his remaining $8,088

Medical or social services not included in the estate Medicaid program will not be counted as income. Distributions for food, clothing, shelter, or cash will be counted as income to the client.