· The entire will is effectively thrown out, and the estate proceeds as though the decedent had never left a will at all. The Will Wasn't Signed in Accordance With Applicable State Laws DNY59 / Getty Images
 · A delay of up to two weeks is common from the date of death until probate is officially opened in some states. For example, a New Jersey court cannot accept a will for probate until 10 days have passed since the date of death. Anyone who wants to object to the will can do so during this time. 1.
 · If there is a will, the representative is usually executor. If there is no will or the executor declines to be the representative, the judge will appoint one. In California, the representative has no legal authority until they are recognized by the probate court.
 · Don’t take it personally when people don’t text you back. Blogs. Bineet Kaur. Apr 26, 2018. When someone doesn’t text back, it can be hard to determine whether or not it’s intentional. But either way, a lack of a response shouldn’t drain you of your self esteem. I tend to feel hurt when people forget to respond to my text messages ...
First violation -- no more than 15 days in jail. Second violations - no more than 30 days ...More
Common examples of violating probation include failing to do the following: Show up regularly for meeting with a probation officer, completing comm...
Probation violations are treated as a civil matter and not a criminal one. You will have a hearing with a judge, who will make a ...More
Technical violation of probation include things like minor traffic offenses, going late to any meetings you might have ...More
You’ll be informed of the end date of your probation during sentencing. If you have violated the terms of your probation at any point, ...More
The deceased's final bills, creditors, and ongoing administration expenses must be paid before the probate estate or trust can close and transfer the remaining assets to beneficiaries. This occurs after the value of the deceased person's assets has been established and, in the case of a probate estate, after the list has been supplied to the court.
This occurs after the value of the deceased person's assets has been established and , in the case of a probate estate, after the list has been supplied to the court. Estate executors are required to notify all potential creditors of the deceased, both those they know about and those they might not be aware of.
Most state probate courts require the filing of a comprehensive list of all property owned by the decedent along with corresponding appraised values.
A delay of up to two weeks is common from the date of death until probate is officially opened in some states. For example, a New Jersey court cannot accept a will for probate until 10 days have passed since the date of death. Anyone who wants to object to the will can do so during this time. 1
Important papers include bank and brokerage statements, stock and bond certificates, life insurance policies, car and boat titles, and deeds. Other information requested may be related to the deceased's debts, including utility bills, credit cards, mortgages, personal loans, medical bills, and funeral expenses.
Inventorying the Decedent's Documents and Property. All the deceased's estate planning documents and other important papers must be located before a personal representative or an executor can be appointed by the probate court, or before a successor trustee can take over the administration of a trust.
The executor of the probate estate or the successor trustee must also file all necessary federal and state estate tax returns, inheritance tax returns, the decedent's final income tax returns, and estate or trust income tax returns.
If no executor is assigned or there is no will, the petition can be filed by other possible beneficiaries. After this is filed with the court, a probate examiner will usually be assigned. This is a court staff member who will do the preliminary work on the decision to grant or deny the petition. If there are no major objections, a probate court ...
These duties include, but are not limited to: If there is a will, contact all beneficiaries listed and give them notice of the probate process. Contact all known creditors.
No, in California you do not always have to go through the probate process. Some of these situations include:
This includes all outstanding medical bills. Pay all taxes. While there are no California estate taxes, there may be federal estate taxes that need to be paid.
Contact all known creditors. A “ Notice to Creditors ” form is sent and the representative also usually publishes a notice several times in a newspaper to alert possible unknown creditors.
The judge may also require a bond on the personal representative to ensure that they do not cause any negligence to the decedent’s estate. The “Letters” establish the timeline for the rest of the probate process. They also recognize the legal personal representative of the estate.
The first step in the probate procedure is to file a petition with the appropriate superior court where the decedent lived. If there is a will, this petition is usually filed by the executor. If no executor is assigned or there is no will, the petition can be filed by other possible beneficiaries.
Penalties for violation can include from 15 to 45 days in prison, depending on whether or not it’s a first offense, and the severity of the violation.
Keep in mind that just because you have been accused of violating your probation, it doesn’t mean that you actually violated it – but being accused of a parole or probation violation could cause the court to change its mind about that suspended sentence, and you’ll find yourself in a cell faster than you can blink. The court does have leeway to change theses limits if in doing so, they do not create any kind of public safety problem for a victim or a witness.
If you have violated the terms of your probation at any point, it may be extended. You may also be able to apply for early termination if you have been compliant with the process and the judge deems it appropriate.
Parole violations work much the same. Violating any of the conditions of your parole can make you subject to revocation of your parole and re-incarceration.
This is just a partial list, and a person who violates a judge’s terms of probation can quickly find the police at their door with an arrest warrant.
When your probationary period ends, it’s important to remember that it does not erase your conviction. However, you can consult with an attorney about sealing or expunging your criminal record, which may be possible in a small number of cases.
If you don't pay your lawyer on the day of trial, or however you have agreed to, then while he or she may be obligated by other ethical duties to do his/her best, they won't be motivated by sympathy for you, and it will show in court.
Tell the Truth. If your lawyer doubts you in the consultation, or doesn't think you have a case, while that may change over time, getting over an initial disbelief is very hard. You have to prove your case. Your attorney is not your witness. They are your advocate - but you are responsible for coming up with proof.
While juries usually get it right, sometimes, it's not about whether a particular matter is emotional or simple, complicated or straightforward. Sometimes people make decisions on who has the nicer suit, or who is more pleasant to deal with. So even if your case is good or even if it's not so strong.
If no one can confirm that the story is true, you will at least need something external, such as a hard copy document, to prove your case. Be prepared.
While lawyers can certainly take your money and your time and we can file a case that will be very hard to win, if you don't care enough about your life to get a contract, the judge is not very likely to be on your side. At least, not automatically. Oral contracts are extremely hard to prove. What are the terms.
Most people hired attorneys because they don't want to sit in court. Well, truth be told, neither do I. The difference between lawyer and client is that the lawyer expects it to take a long time and understands. The client typically thinks it's unjustified. So, your hard truth is that each case takes time. Be patient.
It's expensive because we have to wait in line too. Going to court is more than dressing up in a fancy suit and knowing what papers to fill out. Attorneys have to wait in line just like the "regular folk" and we are at the mercy of the court staff just like everyone else. If you get a bill that includes time spent waiting in court, it's not usually exaggerated. While some people may stretch the truth - if you want to see whether I had to wait an hour for the case to get called, then just come with me to court. Some courtrooms have more than 50 cases on the call. Your case may not be first or even ninth. I have been number 210 on the list before. It takes time. Most people hired attorneys because they don't want to sit in court. Well, truth be told, neither do I. The difference between lawyer and client is that the lawyer expects it to take a long time and understands. The client typically thinks it's unjustified. So, your hard truth is that each case takes time. Be patient.
When a defendant arrested on new charges is found to be in violation of an earlier probation order, the defense may negotiate a new plea bargain to cover both cases in one package deal. This is especially common in busy courts where calendars are backlogged.
If a probation violation is discovered and reported, it is likely that the court will conduct a probation revocation hearing. If the defendant violated probation by breaking a law, the probation revocation hearing will probably take place after the new offense has been disposed of.
If the violation was not a new criminal offense but nevertheless broke a condition of probation (for instance, socializing with people the judge prohibited the defendant from contacting), then the revocation hearing may take place as soon as practicable after the violation is reported.
Because one typical condition of probation is to obey all laws, a probationer who is rearrested on even a minor charge may be subject to penalties for both the current arrest and the probation violation. (Learn more about probation—including its conditions—in our Probation section.)
Defendants caught (either by police or probation officers) violating a condition of probation are subject to having their probation revoked (taken away) and all or part of the original suspended jail or prison sentence imposed. Because one typical condition of probation is to obey all laws, a probationer who is rearrested on even ...
You are not required to provide consent as a condition of service. Attorneys have the option, but are not required, to send text messages to you. You will receive up to 2 messages per week from Martindale-Nolo. Frequency from attorney may vary. Message and data rates may apply.
After a Judgment: Collecting Money. When you "win" a civil case in court, the jury or judge may award you money damages. In some situations the losing party against whom there is a judgment (also known as a debtor), either refuses to follow the court order or cannot afford to pay the amount of the judgment. If this happens, you may be required ...
If you hold a judgment against a company, you may be able to get the sheriff to seize the money in the company's cash register. Businesses may also have machinery, equipment, or other assets that are available to seize. For your safety, and to avoid further litigation, only law enforcement or other authorized persons should seize property.
Unfortunately, if the person against whom you have the judgment files a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your ability to collect is cut-off, like most other creditors. 9. In most states, you will need to retain an attorney to assist you with your collection efforts.
2. If an individual or business debtor stubbornly refuses to pay a judgment or is insolvent (meaning business or person’s debts are greater than its assets), you may find it quite difficult to collect a judgment. 3.
They do so because they want to avoid unpleasant "collection" activities and further costs.
In some situations the losing party against whom there is a judgment (also known as a debtor), either refuses to follow the court order or cannot afford to pay the amount of the judgment. If this happens, you may be required to take additional steps and incur further expenses to collect the judgment. Here are ten things to keep in mind ...
The time period for collecting judgments in many states is ten years, but after that expires you can usually renew the judgment for another ten years. So, even if the person or business that you have a judgment against does not have any income or assets today, income or assets may be accessible in the future. 8.
The judge, knowing exactly what’s going on, typically denies the request, because the jury would smell a rat if the lawyer were to disappear right before the defendant took the stand.
In some courts, the lawyer can protect his sense of ethics by simply putting the client on the stand and instructing him to “tell the jury his story,” rather than specifically prompting the lies. Advertisement. Advertisement. There’s also the controversial issue of “noisy withdrawal.”.
Withdrawal from representation is a surprisingly lively area of legal ethics. Consider the classic case of the avowed perjurer. Criminal defendants have a constitutional right to take the stand in their own defense. Occasionally, one of them tells his lawyer in advance that his entire line of testimony will be lies.
Deadbeat clients also risk abandonment, as do those who refuse to cooperate in their own representation. If the case has already been filed with a court, the lawyer usually needs the judge’s blessing to bow out. In non-litigation matters, no special permission is required. Advertisement. Advertisement. Advertisement.
However, abandonment may be acceptable even if it harms the client’s interests, especially if the client has done something wrong . For example, a lawyer can walk away if the client is engaged in a continuing criminal enterprise, if he’s using the lawyer to perpetuate his illegal scheme, or if the client asks the lawyer to do something illegal ...
Generally speaking, the states’ rules of professional conduct permit an attorney to dump a client if the breakup won’t hurt him, such at the very beginning of the case , or if there’s a suitable replacement waiting in the wings. (That’s the rationale King & Spalding have used to withdraw from the Defense of Marriage Act case.)
Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. As mentioned above, an attorney can’t withdraw in the middle of litigation without the judge’s permission, and it’s indisputably unethical for an advocate to directly inform the judge that his client is a liar.
When you get to court, you have to say and do the right things to win. If you open up with a big sob story and hope you’ll win out of sympathy, you are gravely mistaken. The worst thing you can do is admit the debt was yours. Your case hinges on the debt collector being unable to prove you actually owe the money.
The second purpose is to show the plaintiff that you are playing hardball and won’t just rollover and pay. Because lawsuits can be scary, debt collectors hope that you’ll just pay before it even gets to court, won’t show up and get a default judgement, or won’t know what to do and will lose because you don’t know what to do. Sending the request for production of documentation shows that none of those apply. In many cases, the debt collection agency will drop the lawsuit at this point because they know it may be a losing battle. But if they don’t drop the suit, make sure to take the right steps to stay on track for a win on your court date.
It should go without saying, but you have to physically show up in court on your court date to win. If you don’t show up, you will automatically lose with a “default judgement.” In this case, without having taken the opportunity to defend yourself, the judge says that you lose automatically and owe every cent that you allegedly owe going into the lawsuit.
Send the plaintiff’s lawyer, and send a copy to the judge as well, a Request for Production of Documents via certified mail with return receipt. You can find free templates to use online, such as this one for Massachusetts lawsuits.
If you win, you can walk away with the debt discharged and no longer owed. What a relief! In some jurisdictions, at this point you have enough of a case to counter-sue and possibly win a judgement against the debt collector for filing a frivolous lawsuit in court. But either way, you are off the hook if they can’t produce the right documents in court.
Again, if they don’t have proof, you win by default. If, at this point, the debt collector has been able to provide the original signed contract with your signature and a legal document showing the debt was legally sold and transferred to the debt collector, you may be out of luck and have lost the suit.
This statement explains to the court that while they did provide documentation of a debt agreement between you and a credit card company, medical provider, or other debt source, that you do not believe the debt collector is the legal owner of the debt. This places the burden on the plaintiff to prove that the debt was legally sold and the debt collector has the right to collect.