03/27/98

Is There a Lawyer in the House?...

In responses to Death Without a Will (3/13/98)

Is there a lawyer in the house? I received numerous questions I couldn't answer with my limited knowledge about Wills, gleaned from CT intestacy statutes and articles off the Internet. Is there a lawyer among SNET readers who can answer them? Please be brief and use layman's language whenever possible. Thanks!

Can a man legally disinherit his spouse?

If I am the beneficiary of an IRA (Individual Retirement Account), do I have to cash it in when I inherit it and pay the taxes on it all at once, or can I roll it into my own retirement account?

Are the wills generated from software packages valid?

Do revocable trusts reduce or eliminate taxation on an estate? What are the most common ways to reduce federal and state estate taxes?

We made a will 30 years ago with an attorney who died. Do we have to make a new will now? (His firm is still operating.)

How long does it take to settle an estate in probate court?

How much does a will cost? What is the least expensive way to draft a will?

What happens to certificates of deposit in an estate when the name of the decedent plus the name of one child is on each one? There are three children and the total amounts for each one differ.

What powers does the executor of a will have?

Please send questions or comments to bbruno@snet.net.