Can I transfer property from my mother to myself?

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Can I transfer property from my mother to myself?

My dad recently passed away. He and my mom owned the property where my business has been located for 30 years. My dad and I had been trying to sell it. Now it’s in my mom’s name. She is in the final stages of Alzheimer’s. My sister has legal power of attorney. Can the property be signed over to me so I can sell it? Does this need to be done before the probate process begins?

Asked on May 28, 2019 under Estate Planning, South Carolina

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 5 years ago | Contributor

1) If your sister has a POA, she has the legal authority to do this. You can do it before your mother passes (so before probate), the same as your mother could transfer it if she were mentally competent and wanted to. (The POA gives your sister the same authority as your mother has over her property.)
2) Be aware that getting a house is like getting an amount of money equal to the cash value of the house: there will be a tax consequence. Since this is the equivalent of getting a gift, your mother will have a large gift tax bill--and if it can't be paid, there are situations where the IRS could go after the house or, if it was already sold to some 3rd party, you and/or your sister. (You can't help people avoid taxes or hide assets from the IRS.)
3) If your mother has received or will received Medicaid (e.g. the state is paying for her nursing home or medical treatment), then the state can go after the home and take it, notwithstanding that it was transferred to you, or, if it was already sold to a 3rd party, go after the money received for the home. (You can't hide a person's assets from Medicaid, and Medicaid can seek reimbursement of what they paid for someone's care from any assets transferred by them for less than fair market value within the last 5 years.)
In short, there are some issues to be considered before doing this (though again, you *can* do this) and you may wish to consult with an accountant or CPA before deciding what to do.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

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