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Mom left the house to my brother. Not good choice. He is on SS I and food stamps.He Will have $ 700 in his bank account when the bill is due. Payed in half. Almost $2000. Is due in September. The trust can't pay the bill I don't think. It's a housing expence. What am I supposed to do. He doesn't have intellectual disabilities. Really, he should be responsible for himself. He won't even think of moving.

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Mom planed to put all the money she had into the trust -- but she didn't? What did she do with the rest of the money?

I don't think this is your problem. Let a lawyer take over the trust management duties. If there is not enough money in the trust to cover taxes and insurance and maintenance, and your brother's disability income is not enough to cover those expenses, then your mother simply did not succeed in her intention to take care of him, did she? This is Not Your Fault. Given the nature of your relationship with your brother I think that you are justified in stepping out of the management role.

How did it happen Mother did not provide for him as she intended? What happened with the rest of the estate? Maybe that will provide some clues.
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In addition to the options above, perhaps this home is just too much for him to maintain. Could he sell and downsize? Either to a smaller home with lower taxes or to a low income apartment to rent?

Angel
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You could help him get a small equity loan if you think he'd be able to pay a bit a month. This wouldn't be a very good option if he isn't responsible. I could see you ending up worrying about more than what he'll owe for taxes.

I do wonder what he'll do when it comes time for painting, roofing, and other maintenance. Keeping a house up is expensive.
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BTW, does he have property insurance? That's another big bite that he shouldn't do without.
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Just saw your other post on needing someone to talk to and realized some of my questions were answered there.

I think you're just going to have to decide to step back and let your brother develop some responsibility or make some accommodations.

I DEFINITELY would not dig into your own finances to pay the taxes. Every time you accommodate him, you reinforce the fact that he knows he can get you to bail him out.
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If I'm remembering correctly the trust owns the house - otherwise brother would no longer qualify for SSI. GardenArtist is 100 percent on target. That aside - If the trust owns the house the trust is responsible for the costs. You've stated a number of times your mother wanted your brother provided for - surely with an estate the size you've indicated your mothers is - isn't there a way to pay the tax if the trust can't - which I just find hard to believe if indeed the trust is the owner. It's just too basic a consideration to have been over looked. You know want your mother wanted regarding your brothers care and regardless of how you felt he treated her - although how can you be sure of what actually went on between them since you only visited twice a year. Sorry if that sounds harsh but I've never understood how you can be so sensitive regarding your own anxiety disorder yet so unsympathetic regarding your brothers social disorder. Perhaps a little more compassion towards your brother would go a long way towards solving the tax issue. After all he is alone now and given his disorder is likely to remain that way - you have a life with your husband. Again - I'm sorry for being so direct but I'm wondering if perhaps appointing and paying an attorney to administer the trust would solve further anxiety which is sure to come your way if you remain involved in your brothers life.
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Can you simply pay the taxes out of the money you are waiting to put in the trust?
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If he won't move and he is not realistic, I would dare say you will not be able to fix this problem. He is an adult, and as you have shared generally should be able to take care of himself (isn't disabled) then I think you should leave this for him to solve. It will only cause YOU stress since there are no good answers here. He has no money to pay, and the government doesn't fool around...they will auction the house if the taxes remain unpaid. I see that as the only conclusion...though he would be far better served if he sold to avoid this from happening...then he would have some money to find another place.

Angel
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Barbara, the lawyer who drafted the trust must have taken the property taxes into account. Is the lawyer that you're talking to the one who drafted the trust? Did she forsee that your brother would be able to continue to live in the house and maintain it?

It sounds as though your brother needs for someone to be in charge of his life...and it shouldn't be you. Agreed with paying the lawyer (out of the assets of the trust) to manage it, and to be the one to explain the facts on the ground to your brother.

Barbara, your brother is mentally ill. This is neither his fault nor yours, but it IS a factor in this mess. You (along with any other human being) will have a limited ability to change your brother's mind about things, since he doesn't see reality the way most people do.

For the sake of your mental health, you need to get someone else, preferably a lawyer, to be in charge of your brother's trust.
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The trust can't pay for taxes. But the SSI isn't reduced or temporarily ended unless brother gets money directly. Or maybe they find out trust is paying for stuff not supposed to.I'm personally going to pay the summer taxes. And I hope by winter he is approved for tax credit. And can afford the taxes. If not he has to sell home.
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