Donating a home after death
Hi Terry
Do you know what is the best course or if any that someone can donate there house after the persons death. Me and my wife have no children and we don’t want to give anything to our families. We are in our mid-50’s.
Is a will or trust the best course? and what charity would take a house. If nothing is planned I guess the government just takes your house.
I appreciate your help and time.
Terry Says
Well, you’re starting with some misconceptions. If you do no planning then the probate court will take your home, eventually sell it– and distribute the balance to your heirs! they will find them!!
So if you want to do something charitable, now is the time to make an estate plan. You need an attorney who specializes in those documents. He will tell you how to title the house (likely using a trust, and how to write your will, so that after the last of you dies, the money will go to a charity you select.
But the time to do that planning is right now, while no one in your family can claim that you were “incompetent” or “too old” to make sense!
If you don’t know an estate planning attorney, you can search at Findlaw.com or just follow this link.
