Layton, NJ Estate Planning Law Firms & Lawyers

She should hire a NJ estate lawyer. No, she should not be liable unless she co-signed. An estate may need to be opened. If there are insufficient assets of the husband to pay the debts, the court will discharge the claims. 

A deed has no legal effect until it is delivered.  Recording is the best evidence of recording.  If the recording date falls withing the 60 month Medicaid lookback period, the transfer might well be seen as a transfer for less than fair market value in an attempt to qualify for Medicaid. Please also note that in most states a quitclaim deed does not transfer title.  It is merely a public acknowledgement of an agreement to quit making whatever claim the maker may have to land, often to an easement over land.

It depends on the purpose of the trust.  Any kind of asset protection requires and irrevocable trust.  But be careful, irrevocable means irrevocable, and if you change your mind, or the circumstances change, too bad.  An irrevocable trust is like a third person, it has its own social security number, pays taxes, and has a list of people who control it.  A trust is simply the list of instructions used to determine how and when the assets in the trust can be used.  The trust can hold all of the items you listed, the deed to a house, and two bank accounts.  The trust can also be the recipient of funds from a will, but does not include the will.