Clarence, NY Estate Planning Law Firms & Lawyers

Yes, you can refuse to sign. But something has to be done; either the estate is administered and you get half of the house (or proceeds of sale of the house)[assuming only two siblings, no spouse] or else you disclaim your inheritance and your brother gets it all. If you won't disclaim, and you won't accept your half, then the estate administrator will have to turn your half over to the Division of State Lands, I suppose.

Wills do not need to be notarized in Michigan. Yes, your mother COULD do that. But how does she even know that a Will is the right form to use? About 90% of my clients use estate planning OTHER than a Will. Because most people want to avoid probate. You cannot avoid probate with a Will. The only time a Will is ever used is in probate. What else would she use besides a Will? That is where the office supply or Legal Zoom cannot help you. Your mom needs to review her situation with an attorney to see what she needs and to have it drawn up properly. Could she sign a form and have it turn out? Sure. It could also be a disaster and completely different than what she would have wanted. If there is a problem with a Will, you do not find out about it until after the person has died. Estate planning is not a do-it-yourself project. There are too many potential complications. Estate planning tends to be FAR less expensive than most people assume. Most attorneys do not charge for an initial consultation. At the very least, your mother should do that and figure out what she needs.