Flint, TX Estate Planning Law Firms & Lawyers

In light of the fact your mother is deceased, she no longer has the power to execute a power of attorney to anyone. Powers of attorney prepared during life, die when the maker of the power dies.

Probate is done in the state where the decedent is domiciled. Since he was temporarily staying in another state, that is not considered to be his domicile. Only assets in your father's name only will go through probate. For most married couples, they own everything in joint names, so upon the first to die, there is no probate estate. Therefore, the first question to ask is what assets did your have in his name only that had no beneficiary designation upon his death. This includes payable on death bank accounts and certificates of deposit, transfer on death for personal property that is titled such as boats and automobiles, and beneficiary deeds for real estate. If there are no assets, there is no probate. The next question is what is the value of the assets that go through probate. Most states have procedures for small estates. In Missouri, the small estate procedure is for net assets totaling less than $40,000. If the net assets total more than $40,000, then you need to do a full probate estate. In Missouri, you need to hire an attorney for probate. For estates greater than $40,000, the person probating the estate is called the personal representative. This person can also be called the executor or executrix. This person is named in the will. If there is no will, then this person applies for letters of administration and requests to be appointed personal representative. The court does not automatically do this. The attorney will prepare the necessary papers for you to sign and get appointed.

A power of attorney is no longer valid once the person who signed the power has died. Even if your mother had signed a power of attorney, then, it would not help you now. It's not possible to tell you what to do now, without receiving more information. You may have to probate your mother's estate, or there may be a way around probate. The question depends mostly on the size of your mother's estate. You can do some reading on the subject of probate, you can talk to a lawyer who handles probate matters, or both.