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When a person dies, the deceased individual is called the “decedent” and the decedent is referred to as having died testate (with a will) or intestate (without a will). A will is a written document executed by a competent person that directs how, when and to whom his or her property will be distributed after their death.
Property, including real estate, personal property and any other assets owned or controlled by the decedent at the time of their death, is referred to as the decedent’s estate. In some situations, the estate may consist of nothing more than personal items such as clothing, jewelry or a small checking account. In other instances, the estate will consist of the decedent’s interest in real estate and other assets that
must be identified, valued and eventually transferred to the intended beneficiaries of the decedent’s estate. These and other tasks are accomplished through the probate process.
The word probate comes from the Latin term “probare,” which means to prove. Probate refers to the action of submitting the decedent’s last will and testament to the proper court and “proving” with appropriate documentation and testimony from witnesses that the will was properly signed and witnessed, and constitutes the decedent’s last will and testament.
“Personal representative” is a term used by the Uniform Probate Code to refer to the person who is responsible for administering the decedent’s estate. If the decedent left a will, the personal representative is often named in the will and is also referred to as the executor. If the decedent did not leave a will, the person who administers the decedent’s estate is known as the administrator.
The personal representative qualifies by taking an oath before the probate court. Once qualified, they have the authority to administer the decedent’s estate. The personal representative is then lawfully able to sign checks and other instruments such as deeds that transfer assets from the decedent’s name to the name of the intended beneficiary. The court will generally issue an order or “letters” to the personal
representative that confirm the person has qualified as such and has the authority to act on behalf of the estate.
The personal representative is under a duty to pay any debts and claims owed by the decedent’s estate. Under applicable state law, the estate’s property is liable for the debts of the deceased owner and all heirs and distributes take any estate property subject to such debts. If claims are not paid, a creditor may be able to reach the decedent’s property in the hands of the heirs or distributes. In order to settle and
pay claims against the estate, the personal representative publishes a notice in a local newspaper that informs creditors of the decedent’s death and the opening of the probate estate. State law sets the requirements of what the notice must contain and how it must be published. Creditors of the estate then file notice of their claims with the court. Applicable state statutes provide creditors with a specific time period in which to file their claims or they will be forever barred.
The estate of the decedent, if of sufficient value, may also owe state inheritance and estate taxes and federal estate taxes. States impose a tax on the estate of the decedent or on the transfer of its assets to heirs. Each state has different tax schedules and exemptions. For instance, inheritances received by spouses or children are generally taxed at a lower rate or may be entirely exempt from taxation than those inheritances received from a brother, sister or other individual. The United States may also be entitled to receive a tax from the assets of a deceased person. The right to this tax and a corresponding lien in favor of the United States attaches immediately upon the death of the decedent, regardless of whether an actual lien is recorded.
Not all estates pay taxes. Only estates whose combined gross assets meet certain levels are required to file returns. The value of the decedent’s estate will consist of more than just the decedent’s real estate. The gross estate consists of the value of all property (real or personal, tangible or intangible) owned by a decedent or in which the decedent had an interest at the time of death such as cash and securities, insurance, trusts, annuities, business interests or other assets. If applicable, federal estate taxes are a lien for 10 years from the decedent’s date of death.
If the decedent died testate (with a will), probate is the formal judicial proceeding used to prove the validity of the decedent’s last will and testament. The property of a decedent may pass to others in accordance with the directions left by the decedent in their will admitted to probate. The person who intends to qualify as the personal representative of the decedent’s estate takes the original will and a certified death certificate to the court that has jurisdiction over the will. The court will examine the provisions of the will and the circumstances under which it was signed. If it appears from affidavits attached to the will or from the testimony of witnesses that the decedent signed the will under the proper circumstances, the will is admitted to probate, or “probated.” The court will enter an order that establishes the validity of the will and that it has been proved to be the valid last will and testament of the decedent. Only wills so ordered and admitted by a court may be treated as valid instruments passing title to real estate. A copy of a decedent’s will is not enough to clear title. Rather, the will must have been proved and probated by a court to establish its validity. Without the court order, the will, by itself, will be insufficient to pass clear title to the property.
If the decedent did not leave a valid last will and testament then the decedent is said to have died intestate and the laws of the state of domicile for the decedent will determine who receives his or her property. When there is no will, the decedent’s property passes to family members under a plan set out by the laws of each state. These laws vary considerably from state to state, and which law applies generally depends upon where the decedent had his or her legal residence at the time of death.
Probate of an intestate decedent is the judicial procedure designed to identify the decedent’s heirs according to applicable state intestate succession laws. In some states, if a person dies intestate but is survived by a spouse, the surviving spouse may be entitled to the entire estate unless the decedent had any children who are not also the children (by birth or adoption) of the surviving spouse. If the decedent had children from a prior marriage, the spouse and surviving children divide the estate. If the decedent was not survived by any spouse or children, the decedent’s surviving parents may inherit the property. If no parents are living then the chain of relations in line to inherit the estate grows more distant and includes brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews and grandparents. If there are no descendants then the
property may pass to the state where it is located. Intestate succession laws vary considerably from state to state and therefore the laws of the state in which the real estate is located should be consulted.
From a title examination perspective, the title report will want sufficient confirmation that the probate of the decedent’s estate has addressed all of the following issues: 1) who has title to the deceased owner’s interests; 2) whether the deceased owner’s creditors have been paid; and 3) whether there are any state or federal estate or inheritance tax concerns. Title is proved by probating the decedent’s will or by properly determining the decedent’s heirs according to applicable state law. Creditor concerns are addressed through the probate process and can also be eliminated by applicable state limitation periods. Estate taxes are addressed by showing that the decedent’s estate is exempt from tax because it does not meet certain threshold levels; or if applicable, by paying the tax and obtaining official receipts or waivers from the appropriate taxing authority.
Reverse professionals who are generally familiar with the probate process and the words and phrases used in the probate context can better help their clients address these issues. This article is only a summary and in some cases it may be necessary to research state law for specific local requirements.
***The information above if for informational purposes only. The Company does not assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy.***
HOUSE BILL 279 – AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 30 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO REALTY TRANSFER TAX.
Advisory: During the 2017 Legislative Session, the Florida Legislature passed a bill that revised Florida
Statute § 117.05 to add a veteran health identification card issued by the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs to the list of acceptable forms of identification. Governor Scott has signed this bill and
the new law will be effective July 1, 2017.
As of July 1, 2017, acceptable forms of identification on which a notary can rely will be:
a. A Florida identification card or driver license issued by the public agency authorized to issue driver
licenses;
b. A passport issued by the Department of State of the United States;
c. A passport issued by a foreign government if the document is stamped by the United States
Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services;
d. A driver license or an identification card issued by a public agency authorized to issue driver
licenses in a state other than Florida, a territory of the United States, or Canada or Mexico;
e. An identification card issued by any branch of the armed forces of the United States;
f. A veteran health identification card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;
g. An inmate identification card issued on or after January 1, 1991, by the Florida Department of
Corrections for an inmate who is in the custody of the department;
h. An inmate identification card issued by the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of
Prisons, for an inmate who is in the custody of the department;
i. A sworn, written statement from a sworn law enforcement officer that the forms of identification
for an inmate in an institution of confinement were confiscated upon confinement and that the
person named in the document is the person whose signature is to be notarized; or
j. An identification card issued by the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.
NOTE: This Underwriting Communication is intended for use by title issuing offices, title insurance agents and approved attorneys of First American Title Insurance Company and any reliance by any other person or entity is unauthorized. While the scope of your agency is limited to the functions of underwriting and the issuance of title insurance policies on our behalf and does not include closing or escrow services, we sometimes provide information and recommendations with regard to your ancillary closing or escrow business as a courtesy to you. Moreover, some communications, depending on whether noncompliance could impact on liability under our policies or closing protection letters, should be considered directives. This Communication is being provided to you with those considerations in mind.
* * This UWC should become a permanent part of your records to assure compliance with its requirements. * *
There are different forms of real estate ownership that married couples can use to own real estate. The most recognized form for a married couple is to own their home as Tenants by the Entirety. A tenancy by the entirety is ownership in real estate under the fictional assumption that a husband and wife are considered one person for legal purposes. This method of ownership conveys the property to them as one person. An estate by the entirety can only be created between two persons who must be husband and wife. They must be married and their ownership interests cannot be conveyed without the consent and signature of both spouses. In theory the individuality of each spouse is lost because the husband and wife take as one person.
Under this form of ownership, when one spouse dies title to the property passes to the surviving spouse entirely without the need for probate. An advantage of this form of ownership is that no legal proceeding needs to take place at the death of one’s spouse. There is no need for a will or probate because title automatically passes to the surviving spouse. In many states, if a married couple owns property and the title deed does not stipulate the form of ownership, then a tenancy by the entirety is presumed under state law. In other states, the tenancy must be explicitly stated in the deed to create the tenancy and right of survivorship. Not all states recognize this form of ownership.
Married couples might also hold title in Joint Tenancy. In a joint tenancy the couple will hold title to their real estate jointly with equal undivided interests and withrights of survivorship. An undivided interest is an ownership right to use and possess the entire property. However, no single co-owner can mortgage, sell or otherwise convey the real estate without the consent of the other joint tenant. When a joint tenant dies the right of survivorship entitles the surviving co-owner to an equal share of the deceased share of ownership without the need for probateor legal action. An advantage of this type of ownership is that the parties on title need not be married or related and that title automatically passes at the death of the joint tenant to the surviving joint tenant. In some states the title deed must explicitly confer the right of survivorship.
A couple might also hold title to their home as Tenants in Common. In a tenancy in common the couple will hold title to their real estate jointly with equal rights toenjoy the property during their lives. However, unlike a tenancy by the entirety or joint tenancy, tenants in common hold title individually for their respective part of the property and can convey or mortgage their portion of the property without the consent or joinder of the other tenant in common. Unlike a joint tenancy ortenancy by the entirety, there is no right of survivorship in a tenancy in common. When a tenant in common dies, their property interests will pass to their heirs or their devisees specified in their Last Will and Testament. The death of a tenant in common, therefore, will likely require a legal proceeding to determine the rightful owner(s) of the deceased tenant’s interests.
Another form of vesting title to property owned together by married persons or by domestic partners is as Community Property. Community property is distinguished from separate property, which is property obtained prior to marriage or prior to a domestic partnership by separate gift or bequest, after legal separation, or which is agreed in writing to be owned by one spouse or domestic partner. Since all such property is owned equally, both parties must sign all documents and agreements transferring the property or using it as security for a loan. Each spouse has a right to pass on their share to whomever they wish in a last will and testament. This differs from property owned in joint tenancy in that neither spouse can pass their share to anyone but the other spouse.
Community Property with Right of Survivorship is a form of vesting title to property owned together by spouses or by domestic partners. This form of holding title shares many of the characteristics of community property but adds the benefit of the right of survivorship similar to title held in joint tenancy. On the death of an owner, the decedent’s interest ends and the survivor owns all the interest in the property.
Because married couples may hold title to their homes in different forms, extreme care and caution must be exercised when changing a couple’s tenancy. Doing so without careful planning can have profound unforeseen effects on the couples’ property rights and estate plans. It’s important to seek the advice of a legal professional to make sure that when title is taken to real property, it meets the married couples needs.
Disclaimer: The above is for informational purposes only. The Company assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy.
Action to Quiet Title: An action to quiet title is a lawsuit to establish a plaintiff’s title to land by compelling the adverse claimant to either establish a claim or to be quiet about his/her challenges or claims to the title. An action to quiet title is generally brought in a court having jurisdiction over land disputes. It establishes a party’s title to real property against everyone.
Certified Copy (Death Certificate): Issued by the local Vital Records office will have a raised seal, will show the signature of the local registrar, and will be printed on security paper.
Cloud on Title: An apparent claim or encumbrance, such as a lien, that, if true, impairs the right of the owner to transfer his or her property free and clear of the interests of any other party.
Financing Statement: A legal form that a creditor files to give notice that it has or may have an interest in the personal property of a debtor.
Landlocked Parcel: A parcel of land surrounded entirely by private owned land, with no access to a public right of way (road).
Lis Pendens: A legal notice recorded to show pending litigation relating toreal property, and giving notice that anyone acquiring an interest in said property subsequent to the date of the notice may be bound by the outcome of the litigation.
Mechanic’s Lien: A lien created by statute for the purpose of securing priority of payment for the price or value of work performed and materials furnished in construction or repair of improvements to land, and which attaches to the land as well as the improvements.
Notice of Completion: Written notice issued by the owner of a project (or his or her agent) to notify concerned parties that all work on the project has been completed. This notice also sets the period within which concerned parties may exercise their lien rights against one another.
Power of Attorney: An authority by which one person (principal) enables another (attorney in fact) to act for him/her. (1) General Power – authorizes sale, mortgaging, etc. of all property of the principal. (2) Special Power – Specifies property, buyers, price and terms, etc.
Torrens System: Land registration system in which the government is the keeper of all land and title records, and a land title serves as a certificate of full, indefeasible, and valid ownership.
Tips To Improve Your Closing Experience
Tuesday, July 18, 2017 – 10:00am PST/1pm EST
Closing transactions efficiently and accurately is our first priority. You’ll get peace of mind and security with our smooth and easy process. Join us for a webinar to see how you and your borrower can help improve the closing experience.
Click here to register
Introduction to Powers Of Attorney
Thursday, July 20, 2017 – 10am PST/1pm EST
Please join us for our upcoming webinar entitled: Introduction to Powers of Attorney (POA). Reverse mortgages are complex and being prepared is key to a successful closing. Powers of Attorney are very common in the Reverse Mortgage industry. We are happy to share our experience and knowledge with you and together we can make the borrower’s experience a pleasant one.
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The ARS Calculator has been updated to reflect a new fee in North Carolina. A $15 commitment fee will apply to all mortgage transactions, effective June 9 2017.
We stand behind our rate calculator, which is why we advise you to pull a new quote for each application, to ensure you are receiving a current fee. If you do not have access to our calculator, please inquire with us for a login.
Reverse mortgages are complex and being prepared is key to a successful closing. We are happy to share our experience and knowledge with you and together we can make the borrower’s experience a pleasant one.
Title Review 101
June 14, 2017 – 10:00am PST/1:00pm EST
Please join us for our upcoming webinar on Title Review 101. We will discuss the basics of title insurance, title commitments and how to review the reports for important and relevant information that will need to be addressed during the transaction.
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Introduction to Allegiant Reverse Services
June 21, 2017 10:00am PST/1:00pm EST
Our team of respected and seasoned industry professionals brings a stellar reputation along with added services to fulfill the needs of our industry partners. Please join our webinar to learn about our company and the services that we offer.
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Life estates are often encountered by reverse mortgage professionals during the origination process. Reverse professionals should have a good understanding of what a life estate is in order to guide their clients and transaction to a successful closing.
A life estate is a type of ownership interest in real estate. In a life estate one person is given an ownership interest in real estate for their lifetime. This person is called a life tenant. At the death of the life tenant, the real estate passes automatically to one or more other individuals or organizations. The people or organizations that receive the property at the death of the life tenant are called remainderman.
It is important to understand that a life estate is a form of co-ownership. Both the life tenant and remainderman each have an ownership interest in the real estate, but at different periods in time. Unlike other forms of co-ownership, the co-owners do not have rights to the property at the same time. Rather, the life tenant possesses the property during their life. The other co-owner, the remainderman, holds a current ownership interest in the property but cannot take possession of the property until the death of the life tenant.
Read more about life estates by accessing our educational flyer below:
Title Tidbits Life Estates
