that the property was not owned jointly at the time of the death of the deceased. If the property is/was owned jointly, then the surviving owner inherits the property in full. Therefore, you will have to confirm whether you can inherit it by reading the death certificate and determining the order of inheritance. If the person that you inherit the property from has died first and left behind a co-owner, then the property would revert back to the other owner, leaving you to establish your claim as the legal heir to the property. If the will lists you as the inheritor, then you will require an executor’s deed. If the inheritance is facilitated by the court in the absence of a will, then you must present an administrator’s deed. Both kinds of deeds must describe the property legally and mention your name as the new owner. Along with the administrator who issued the deed, you need to sign the new deed in the presence of a notary public. If needed, you must also be able to produce a copy of the probated will as part of making the deed.
LIFE ESTATES
According to its legal definition, “life estate” is not ownership, but the right to use or occupy real property for one’s life. Often this is given to a person (such as a family member) by deed or as a gift under a will with the idea that a younger person will then take the property upon the death of the one who receives the life estate. Title may also return to the person giving or deeding the property or to his/her surviving children or descendants upon the death of the life tenant—this is called “reversion.” Examples of creation of a life estate include, “I grant to Sally Smith the right to live in said real property until her death,” or, “I give my daughter, Sadie Smith, said real property, subject to a life estate to Sally
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