Jennifer R.
1/5
Horrible lawyer who is making my father's death 500x worse. I was first suspicious when my parents said Ms. Brown made their wills, and I had to contact her if they died. This confused me because any probate lawyer should be able to deal with it. When I needed Dad's Power of Attorney, Ms. Brown did not have a copy of it--thankfully it was in a folder I had access to with the Will. Why contact her if she doesn't keep records?
My Dad wanted an autopsy because he felt the hospital was treating him badly--he told several family members this. My Mom believed the hospital was trying to kill him and tried to have him transferred to another--which was denied. After his death, their fears and the real mistakes the hospital made left me uneasy. Further, my Mom blamed me for his death since I was against transferring him to Fort Wayne/Indianapolis in his fragile condition. I saw an autopsy as a way to fulfill my father's wishes and to put my mind at rest. My mother consulted her lawyer--Ms. Brown. Ms. Brown told Mom I only wanted the autopsy to try to get money. I had to pay for the autopsy out of my own pocket and spent the whole week fighting with my Mom about it because of Ms. Brown.
My Mom inherited a lot through joint accounts, but she wants me to pay her back for the funeral (which she paid for in full). Further, Dad had a classic car, a second car, a coin collection, guns, and other items that I believe total more than $50,000. My Mom said one of the cars was worth at least $37,000 and looking online, I believe her. However, he had medical debt agencies hounding him--despite the fact he had 3 insurance polices, and I found letters stating he was not responsible for these bills. I wanted these debts to be discharged through the Court so my Mom would not be hounded and tempted to pay them. My Mom signed consent for me to be the personal representative (she would not have been able to fulfill the position anyway due to her health and inability to drive), and I filed the papers with the Court. Again, Ms. Brown stepped in. Instead of reassuring my Mom that a personal representative cannot steal from the estate, she told my Mom (despite the burden of it) I was getting revenge because my Dad had told me (and again, several other people) I was getting the classic car and my Mom refused to honor this wish. Ms. Brown had the audacity to tell me this over the phone, so I know she was the one stirring up trouble. She told my Mom my foolishness (of filing) would cost the entire estate!
I understand my Mom did not want me to have the car, and she was trying to get the title transferred into her name without probate through Ms. Brown. Ms. Brown did not offer to appraise either of the cars prior to retitling them, but was planning to get around the law and Dad's wishes. She actually told me "lawyers do everything they can to avoid probate."
When I filed, I fully understood that filing in probate meant that the cars might be sold to pay for debts, and I still might not get the one promised to me--however, it would save the joint accounts my Mom inherited from being taken to pay for Dad's debts, and it was legally necessary if the cars and the other items solely in my Dad's name valued more than $50,000. If Ms. Brown truly advised her clients how to avoid probate, she would have at a minimum told my Dad BEFORE HE DIED to get a TOD title for the cars that automatically passes them to the person he wants them to go to--the legal way of avoiding probate and this mess.
Now, my Mom told me she will fight me in Court. My Mom has an appointment with the VA next week. I can't take her because of the legal situation Ms. Brown created even though I have had to clarify things with the VA multiple times for Mom. Mom can't maintain the cars and didn't after Dad's death, so they no longer start--plus, she hasn't driven in 20 years and although she has a license expiring next year, she wouldn't be able to pass the vision test now. How will she get to the VA?
You don't want this drama from Ms. Brown's false assumptions after losing a loved one.
