A Minneapolis Estate Planning Attorney Explains the Pros of Adding Your Spouse to the Deed to Your House
Many people erroneously assume that when one spouse dies, the other spouse receives all of the remaining assets; this is often not true and frequently results in unintentional disinheritance of the surviving spouse.
In cases where a couple shares a home but only one spouse’s name is on it, the home will not automatically pass to the surviving pass, if his or her name is not on the title. Take, for example, a case of a husband and wife where the husband purchased a home prior to his marriage, and consequently only his name is on the title (although both parties resided there, and shared expenses, during the marriage). Should the husband pass away before his wife, the home will not automatically pass to her by “right of survivorship”. Instead, it will become part of his probate estate.
This means that there will need to be a court probate case opened and a personal representative (executor) appointed. If the husband had a will, this would be the person he nominated in his will to carry out his instructions regarding disposition of the assets. If he did not have a will, Minnesota probate law states who has priority to serve as personal representative AND inherit the assets.
Take our above example; if the husband died without a will, Minnesota probate law determines who is entitled to the home. Under Minnesota law, if the husband in our example had children, even if they are the children from the current marriage, the surviving spouse is only entitled to a life estate in the home. The “remainder interest” goes to the kids. If this is a second marriage, children from the prior marriage may be entitled to more of the estate. A life estate with a remainder interest means the surviving spouse has strict limitations on what she can do with the home. For instance, she can’t sell the home.
I am currently handling several probate matters where the surviving spouse was not on the house deed.
Laws of inheritance are complex, and without proper planning, surviving loved ones may be subjected to unintended expense, delays and legal hardships. If you share a residence with a significant other or spouse, you should consult with an attorney to determine the best course of action after taking into account your unique personal situation and goals. There may be simple ways to ensure your wishes are carried out and avoid having to probate your spouse’s estate at death.
Contact a Minnesota Estate Planning Lawyer today to assist with adding your spouse to the deed to your home.