questions & answers

Question: Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I have 2 siblings and a step sibling who are sole beneficiaries of a trust. My step dad passed almost a year ago. We have heard nothing about the status of the trust. All of his personal property has been sold and presumably those funds have been added to the trust. None of us are contesting the distribution of funds. How long should it generally take for us to hear when we may receive our inheritance and how can I follow up on the courts progress? Kindly, Sharon D.

Answer: Only an attorney or the trustee of the trust would be able to tell you how long it will take to receive your inheritance. According the Maricopa County Superior Court Self Help Center - they say the following: If a person dies without a valid will, Arizona law determines who inherits the estate. If a person dies with a will, the will usually determines who gets the property of the person who died. A will can also be used to say who should take care of children under the age of 18, or someone who is disabled. The requirements for a will are very technical. A will written in another state, that is valid in that state, is usually valid in Arizona. A will that is written in the handwriting of the person making the will is valid in Arizona if it is in the handwriting of the person who died and was signed and dated by the person before death. Once a will is written, the original should be kept in a safe place so it can be found when the person who wrote the will dies. A will does NOT need to be recorded with the County Recorder. The Court does not accept wills for safekeeping until the person dies. The Court only accepts a will if a probate in court is required. Trusts are estate planning tools that name a trustee to manage a person's assets during his or her lifetime, and tells the trustee how to distribute those assets when the person dies. Unlike a will, a trust can reduce or eliminate estate taxes, and the need for probate court. Wills and trusts are highly personalized estate planning tools. Anyone who is thinking about making a will or trust should ask a lawyer or an accountant who is experienced in estate planning to help determine the best way to set it up.