What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California
In February of 2009 my wife and I flew to California from Michigan so as to help my wife's step mother set up her estate. There had been to many large losses like loans to people in excess of $50,000 which had never been repaid. Loans to my wife's daughter which also had not been repaid. Upon her request we went there and set in front of an attorney and hammered all of the details out including having my wife placed on as joint owner of 2 annuities. The thought was that these would be there if something were to happen to her and to safeguard the funds from being lost. Both of my wife's daughters are there in California and they, I believe are wanting to get their hands on the money. Mom is now 86. We just recently received a letter from the same attorney who helped set this all up. The letter states mom Wants my wife off as joint owner and that she never intended for her to be joint owner. She states this was a wrong done to mom. "These annuities cannot be adequately protected when the exposure to them is raised by having your name on them" She goes on to accuse us of elder abuse and that she will bring legitimate action and that we will bear the costs for such action under the protective statutes under California Probate Code. My wife had been set up as the executor of the trust but has been since removed. Is this legal?
In February of 2009 my wife and I flew to California from Michigan so as to help my wife's step mother set up her estate. There had been to many large losses like loans to people in excess of $50,000 which had never been repaid. Loans to my wife's daughter which also had not been repaid. Upon her request we went there and set in front of an attorney and hammered all of the details out including having my wife placed on as joint owner of 2 annuities. The thought was that these would be there if something were to happen to her and to safeguard the funds from being lost. Both of my wife's daughters are there in California and they, I believe are wanting to get their hands on the money. Mom is now 86. We just recently received a letter from the same attorney who helped set this all up. The letter states mom Wants my wife off as joint owner and that she never intended for her to be joint owner. She states this was a wrong done to mom. "These annuities cannot be adequately protected when the exposure to them is raised by having your name on them" She goes on to accuse us of elder abuse and that she will bring legitimate action and that we will bear the costs for such action under the protective statutes under California Probate Code. My wife had been set up as the executor of the trust but has been since removed. Is this legal?