Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in New York

Will

My Dad lives in Queens, NY. My father made up a will many years ago and it said that all his assest are to be divided equally amoun his 4 children. A yr and a half ago my brother passed away. Last night he told me his wishes are to have my dead brothers portion divided among his 3 children. Does his will need to be rewritten or would something like that cause the will to go into probate? I want to advise my father correctly so that his wishes are carried out. Please advise


Asked on 7/09/08, 9:16 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Stephen Loeb Law Office of Stephen R. Loeb

Re: Will

It is fairly standard in a will that it states that any share designated for a child who pre-deceases the testator goes to his children.

If the will doesnt specifically state this, amd that is the intention of your father, I am going to go out on a limb and assume that the current will presently has other problems with it as well.

I would be happy to review, and if necessary re-draft your father's will if he would like. I have an office in Bayside, Queens, should he like to make an appointment.

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Answered on 7/10/08, 10:57 am
Walter LeVine Walter D. LeVine, Esq.

Re: Will

I have not seen your father's Will and Wills, in general, can be written two ways: either to allow the issue (children, grandchildren) to inherit if their parent poredeceases the Will maker (this presumes that the deceased child had issue), or to divide the estate among only the living children. Either case is appropriate, although it is more traditional to allow to allow the children of a deceased child take what their parent would have received if he/she had survived. I suggest that your father meet with an attorney familiar with Wills to review what are your father's desires and prepare a new Will that properly reflects what he wants to do.

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Answered on 7/09/08, 9:36 pm


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