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She is 65. Dad left no will. She just moved in.

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I am thinking it is probably property taxes. People over 65 or who are disabled quality for partial or complete exemption from property taxes. Property taxes in TX are high, so being able to claim exemption can mean much money. The thing I would have asked to be clear is what will happen to the house when Mother passes. Is it written in the will to be given to all the children?
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Did your father's estate go through the Intestacy process due to him dying without a will? If the house was not put in trust, you cannot sign over a title without it going through the probate process. What taxes is your sister trying to avoid paying; inheritance, property tax, capital gains tax? Signing off on a title means you do lose your rights. The lawyer seems a little shady to me.
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I wish you had consulted your own lawyer before you signed anything. This doesn't sound right.Never ,ever sign anything before you find out all the details for yourself.Since you said this is your sister's attorney that means he is working only for her, not your mom or for you.Contact legal aid,I know lawyers are expensive, but their might be a possibility that because you weren't fully informed the "signing" is invalid. Something just sounds very shady about this,please follow up on this for your mother's sake.
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Oh, that makes sense. Chances are you signed the affidavit so that the property could be recognized as passing to your mother. Is that correct? This happens when someone dies without a will. Potential heirs will sign affidavits that either claim a portion of the property, or more commonly direct their interest in the property to the next of kin (spouse). This is the easiest way to do it when it comes to insurance and taxes, because a simple warranty deed can be written. If that is what happened, it is okay, but you will want to check your mother's will to see what the fate of the property will be. And you will want to make sure your mother has a will. It makes it so difficult when there is no will. (What you just went through is a good example. If your father had willed the house to your mother, it would have been easier.)
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Contact an attorney yesterday!
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I just re-read your question and realize I had misunderstood. It is your sister who moved into the home. Is your mother still alive? Whose name is on the deed? I apologize for the oversight. That it is your sister and not your mother makes a world of difference.
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Your sister may find out that she may have more taxes--the IRS may hit her for gift taxes and it's possible that she won't get the base value step-up so when she sells she will have a major capital gain.
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So dad died, but mom is still alive & Sissy in TX is co-ordinating all, correct?

If there was no will, then TX it's consider intestate death and all property & assets escheat to the state. Family then needs to file an Affadavit of Heirship in which all heirs are listed. An TX attorney needs to do this and does a posting in each county where assets are. The document will detail all marriage, divorce and children from those too (and if anyone died, that too). Then the asset can transfer title to the heirs. It can be done as a muniment of title if there is only the house & maybe a car & no debt from the deceased estate. Usually all heirs are equal unless they each sign off their share to another. What exactly did you all do?

BTW tax statement for January, 2015 payment has already gone out, so whatever is needed to be paid to tax assessor stands as is. And needs to be paid. You all can go back and file and appeal once paperwork is cleared but you have to pay the amount on the bill. TX tax assessors have no sense of humor or want to hear your family drama either. Your mom probably can qualify for the low income & elderly quarterly payment plan if you want to do it that way. But the first payment must be paid in January to avoid penalties or tax sale issues.
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Since your knowledge of what you signed is so limited, you really should see an attorney MONDAY asap and sort things out.
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I just had her give me $500 and signed over my share. I got tired of fighting. I was due $10,000 but I was the only sibling fighting for anyting, so I relented. I am living a lot lighter now that drama is done. Yes, I got the short end of the stick, but I wanted peace.
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