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Living trust

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kam1963

Junior Member
What is the name of your state?
Florida
My son and I have been listed as beneficiaries of a (living trust) of the property (life estate) in which we have lived since 1999. My grandmother died in 2001. The trustee, my mother, has allowed the house to be sold and has said that the proceeds will be distributed to myself and my son. Being that the market is very slow in Florida currently, my mother said that she would just sign the house over to me, but then four weeks later she tells me that her attorney says this can't happen and the proceeds can only be distibuted when the house sells. My husband and I have now offered to purchase the house for a reasonable sale price since the money is supposedly going to be redistributed back to myself and my son anyhow. There is no mortgage on the house, there never was as my grandmother had this house built for us. We have it on the market for $229,000 which is well below market value. She is now saying we need to check with an attorney to see if this is even possible for us to do. She also says there would capital gains taxes to be paid, by whom I don't know. Then she says she thought she asked about doing a quit claim deed but didn't think this could be done either. (She thought she had already asked her attorney this) Then she says she would sell it to me for a dollar! I'm not sure what to do and what my next course of action should be. By the way, she did send me certain pages of the trust, but there were several pages missing and I was told this was all the information I needed to see. Hope you can help.
 


kam1963

Junior Member
Here are my questions

Thanks for responding to my post. I guess I really didn't ask any questions! My question first of all is, aren't I entitled to receive a complete copy of the trust? I know I probably need to hire an attorney, but, who would be responsible for paying capital gains taxes if there are any to be paid? Can a quit claim be filed? Can she sell the house to me for $1?
 

FlyingRon

Senior Member
aren't I entitled to receive a complete copy of the trust?
No.

, but, who would be responsible for paying capital gains taxes if there are any to be paid?
The capital gain is only the difference in the value a the time your grandmother died and the what the house sells for. It they trust sells the house, they pay the tax with the proceeds. If the house is transferred to you, you inherit the basis of the value at the time of grandma's death. You then pay tax on that when you ever sell it (of course if you live there you are entitled to a $250,000 exclusion under the current tax laws).

Can a quit claim be filed?
Yes.

Can she sell the house to me for $1?
I suppose the trust could sell you the house, but you wouldn't want them to do that.
 

kam1963

Junior Member
why not buy?

Thanks for responding to my questions. Why wouldn't I want the trust to sell me the property? Although I have thought about if we do obtain a mortgage we would have to have it written up that we would get the money back? I think.
 

BlondiePB

Senior Member
My question first of all is, aren't I entitled to receive a complete copy of the trust?
If this is granny's trust, yes you are entitled to a complete copy of the trust and an annual accounting, etc. from the trustee.
 
S

StuckOnStupid

Guest
kam1963 wrote: "My son and I have been listed as beneficiaries of a (living trust) of the property (life estate) in which we have lived since 1999."

The first thing that jumps out at me from your original post is that you have mixed two distinctively different things together. Having a "Life Estate" on real property and being a "Beneficiary" of a Trust are two very different things.

If your Grandmother provided a "Life Estate" for you and your son on this property that means that you have the absolute right to live on that property for the rest of your natual life. It DOES NOT mean that you have any incidents of ownership of the property.

It's my guess that you are not truly listed as a beneficiary of the trust and that your Grandma simply wanted to be sure her granddaughter would always have a place to live.

Your Mother can't sell the property unless you agree and sign away your Life Estate. If you ARE NOT actually listed as a beneficairy of the trust then the proceeds would be paid to the Trust's beneficaries and NOT to you.

You have every right to have a complete copy of the trust if in fact you are a beneficairy of the trust. If you have only been granted a Life Estate on this property then the terms of the trust are none of your business as long as the trustee is admininstering the trust in accordance with its terms.
 

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