The Need For Wills In Complicated Situations

By: Marc S. Galella, Esq. of R.C. Shea & Associates

It never ceases to amaze me how people with complicated life situations do not have a Last Will and Testament to make things easier on their families when they pass away.

Case in point, mother and father own a house and reside in the house with their daughter. Daughter has long term medical and psychological issues and cannot live on her own. Parents have one other child, their son, who does not live with his parents. Mother and father both die without preparing Wills. According to daughter, it was the parents’ intention that when both parents passed away the daughter would have the right to live in the house for the rest of her life.

Of course, her brother, the other surviving heir, claims not to be aware of their parents’ intentions and expects the house to be sold so he can receive his share of the estate. Daughter is now upset over the fact that she will have to vacate the house and use her proceeds from the sale of the house to find another place to live.

So now brother and sister are at odds with each other. Sister believing, she should have the right to live in the house for the rest of her life and brother looking for his share of the parents’ estate.

All this could’ve been avoided had the parents prepared Wills that would have stated their intentions as to the house. When a person passes away without a Will, the estate must be distributed pursuant to the New Jersey laws of intestacy which are a series of laws that specify how assets are to be distributed if there is no Will. In this case, the brother and sister would each have inherited one-half of the estate upon the death of the second parent to pass away. Without a Will that could have shown what the parents real intentions were, legally brother has the right to demand that the house be sold so he can receive his onehalf interest in the estate. Had the parents made Wills, they could have stated their intentions as to how the house was to be handled. They could have left the house to the daughter; they could have left the house equally to the two children with the daughter having the right to reside in the house; or they could have left the estate equally to the two children and the daughter would have to find another place to live after the house was sold.

The moral of this story is that everyone should have a Will. More importantly, you should have Will especially where you have a complicated situation such as the intention to leave the house to one child. Contact R.C. Shea & Associates for all your Estate Planning needs.

Thyroid Support Group

WHITING – The thyroid support group will meet at 10 a.m. on March 13 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 180 Route 539, Whiting. They share information, and support each other. Call the Church office on Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 732-350-2121 to ask for directions. Call the facilitator, Stefanie at 732-350-2974 with your questions.

CLIP & SAVE

Bill

MORANO TOURS LLC. (732) 278-2059

P.O. BOX 1991 • TOMS RIVER 08754-1991 | PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: moranotours.net 1982 – 2023 CELEBRATING 41 YEARS OF AFFORDABLE TOURS

DAY TRIPS

SAT. MAR. 11 PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW “GARDEN ELECTRIC” $88. 2023 SHOW RETURNS INDOORS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER. INCLUDES ADMISSION.

SUN. APR. 30 WIND CREEK CASINO $44. BETHLEHEM, PA. GUESTS RECEIVE $25-$30 SLOT PLAY.

SAT. MAY. 6 AMISH COUNTRY LANCASTER, PA. $85. Includes SHADY MAPLE Lunch, plus visit Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop and Kitchen Kettle Village.

WED. JUNE. 7 DAY IN CAPE MAY, N.J. $99.

INCLUDES LUNCH AT LOBSTER HOUSE AND HISTORIC DISTRICT TROLLEY TOUR.

WED. JUNE. 28, JULY 19 A BEAUTIFUL NOISE $175. THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL. 2PM SHOW - ORCHESTRA SEATS

THURS. JULY. 6 SIGHT & SOUND THEATER “MOSES” $137. MAIN FLOOR SEATS. INCLUDES BUFFET LUNCH AT SHADY MAPLE.

SAT. JULY. 22 NEW YORK YANKEES VS. K.C. ROYALS GOOD SEATS $133.

2023 MULTI-DAY TOURS

MAY 20-26 7 DAY KENTUCKY AND NASHVILLE’S “MUSIC CITY” $1079.

NASHVILLE’S GRAND OLE OPRY, GENERAL JACKSON LUNCH AND SHOW CRUISE, GUIDED TOUR OF HISTORIC LEXINGTON, KY AND HORSE RACING PARK. ALSO, NOAH’S “ARK ENCOUNTER,” BOURBON DISTILLERY TOUR AND TASTING. PLUS, WEST VIRGINIA, “THE MOUNTAIN STATE” GANDY DANCER DINNER SHOW. 11 MEALS TOO! GOOD PACKAGE. GREAT PRICE!

JUNE 18-21 4 DAY CAPE COD AND MARTHA’S VINEYARD $789.

JULY 11-13 3 DAY FINGER LAKES, N.Y. $675.

SEPT. 17-20 4 DAY COASTAL MAINE $749.

OLD ORCHARD BEACH (3 NTS.), PORTLAND, CASCO BAY CRUISE, KENNEBUNKPORT.

Some dates and prices are subject to change. INCLUDES DELUXE MOTORCOACH TRANSPORTATION. OVERNIGHT TOUR PRICES INCLUDE HOTELS AND ARE PER PERSON DBL. OCC. TOMS RIVER DEPARTURES. FREE PARKING AVAILABLE. CALL FOR FREE BROCHURE (732) 278 - 2059

photo oF the WeeK

Just look at that face! Photographer Nicholas Marraro captured this beautiful seal off the coast of the Jersey Shore at Sandy Hook. For more of his great pics, follow him on Instagram @nickmarraro. Want to see your photos in this space? Email them to photos@jerseyshoreonline.com and you may win a prize!

Al-Anon Meetings Available Locally

OCEAN COUNTY – Are you troubled by someone else’s drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups may be able to help you. Call their 24-hour hotline for local meeting locations at 888-944-5678.