THE NEED OF YOUR HELP

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:22 pm

I am doing through a very difficult area of checking of family asset's. I have a father that is in his 80's and it has come time to check that all his family's well being has been looked after right. He will not talk about any of it. He feels that it has all been done right but he will not allow any of us to see the trust papers. I have tried the Bank's and property search with little to no luck. It has to do with Michigan and Property search is not been possible. Any and all help would be thankful. :o

Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 5:52 am

Hi,

I know in NYS you can access property records through the County Clerk's Office - they are considered to be public records. They tell you whose name/names are on the he title and how it is held (joint tenants with right of survivorship, tenants in common). This stuff is important when it comes to inheritance. I think (don't know) that the Village Hall in your town may have records of all town properties - land as well as real estate.

Also, if you suspect any tax wrongdoings you can to US Department of the Treasury
(IRS) and they have a Criminal Investigation Department which investigates potential
tax fraud - for individuals not only for large corporations.

It sounds like your Dad is intending to leave some "surprises". If he has trusts set up he most likely worked with a lawyer specializing in wills and estates. There are huge tax implications if money or property is held "ITF (in trust for) as opposed to just being written into the will.

Good Luck!!
4myinfo

Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 5:43 pm

I take it the trustee / successor trustee will not give insight as to its contents.
I recently found property info by conducting a property tax search using owners name in several Michigan counties and cities. Time consuming “yes” productive “yes”.
I’m curious; the trust no doubt has an "In Terrorem" clause, how do you plan to use this info to your advantage?

Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 2:32 am

I wish I could give you a full answer but my mood changes as fast as the wind. The best thing I can tell you is that I come from a spite family. I had a sister who passed this last Feb. at that time being that I am the only one left on my dads side of the family I began to ask a few questions, I didn't like the maner that I was asked to trust that every thing was in place as was needed.
You will have to also understand that on the otherside of the family my step-mother has 3 grown children, one is even a lawyer.
It began as a little question, only my little voice just will not let me see thing going well if I wait before I insure that I have not been a fool. I have seen to many families loss because of doing the respecful thing. I have tried to find what I can without bringing a total blow out to what is left of my family.
What has made things even touchier is that this last week-end my Dad had a stroke, if I bring up the possibility that thing are not as he believes than I take the chance of putting him back in the hospital or worse.
So before comfronting the other side of the family I wish to know what I am talking about.
Any extra information I can gather would help me understand how to handle this as lightly as possable.
THANK YOU, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT MICHAEL46_1@YAHOO.COM
MICHAEL