Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Charlene Ozawa on April 4, 2011 at 1:16am

Hi Renee. Good question. My husband died June 19th and I haven't told the bank yet. I'm selling the house and the real estate agent said since we had a will and trust not to worry about it. I don't know how the mortgage co. can call the loan if your payments are current. Can you qualify on your own? I will research and let you know what I find. My personal banker knows that I'm a widow and that I have a mortgage but never said anything. Hugs.

Permalink Reply by Sheryl McCormick on April 4, 2011 at 5:13am

I thankfully had enough insurance money to pay off all of my mortgage except for a small equity loan that I am paying on to clear up too.  That loan is in both of our names but they haven't changed that for me even though I took in a death certificate and they changed all of the other things that were in both our names (credit cards, checking, savings, etc.).  I had to re-open all in my own name.

 

I think if depends on the bank, company, etc.  We also were members of a credit union that closed our joint account and credit card account and had me open in my own name.  I didn't have to deal directly with a mortgage company - only banks and credit unions. 

 

My premium didn't go up - it went down for the auto - not as much as I thought it would but it did go down some.  I think I would consult an attorney if you have the funds to do that.  I am sure it is very scary - it is so frustrating dealing with all of these things when we are at our very worst and can barely get through a day.  My prayers will be with you.  I hope you hear from others who have faced exactly what you are facing to help guide you in this situation. 

Permalink Reply by Virginia on April 4, 2011 at 8:34am

Hi Renee, do you know if  the mortage is what they call an asumable  ( spelling ) mortage when we refinaced  we were told it was, as i was not on the loan  i could just assume the mortage but when i went to pay it off, the paper work said they had the right to decide if they would allow me to assume it but when i told them there was a will (thank god i made him do one ) and i was the sole heir  there was no problem except they made me pay for a pay off notice, then insisted i had to pay that amount even tho i had made 2 payments before they finished their paper work and they had to refund  $ back to me. I  know theres alot to deal with hopefully you have someone who can help. I didn't but got thru it, good luck.Hugs

Permalink Reply by Marlena on April 4, 2011 at 4:28pm

Renee,

It has been just over 2 years for me and I still haven't told the mortgage company.  At first, I had to wait for the probate "stuff" to be settled so I could become the official Administrator of the estate.  All of that was finally settled last month, but I still am afraid to tell the mortgage company.  I have no idea what to expect. My guess is they will make me go through the whole process of appyling for a loan, but the thing I am concerned about is having to pay all the "closing" costs or what ever other surprises they could throw my way. If all goes well, I plan to be able to pay the mortgage off in another 2 years.  Sometimes, I think I should just wait until I am ready to pay it off and then tell them so they can't do anything to me.  We had no will and had done nothing to prepare for either one of us dying. Everything we had was in his name and so far I have only turned one car over into my name.  I really need to consider doing all of this, but it is hard to take Tom's name off of things. I even have Tom's name on the car insurance still...I did tell them he was gone and they told me I didn't have to take him off yet if I wasn't ready...so, I've left him on there. 

I guess, I am in the same boat as you...I need some guidance on getting everything into my name.  But it is so hard to make that change!

Best of luck with everything...keep us posted on what you do and how do it.

Hugs!!

 

Permalink Reply by Kathy King Kates on April 4, 2011 at 5:43pm

Marlena, and others. I would make sure you all have some credit cards in your names for sure because that was the first thing that happened to me. The bank hasn't done anything but 3 of our credit cards suddenly disappeared because they were in his name and I was only a signer. I thought we were joint. I was lucky with having been previously divorced i knew how important it was to have something in my name so I had always kept a couple of my own which are now my lifeline. Luckily we paid cash for our house but I haven't felt the need to change the deed or anything. I worry mostly about the taxes cus he was older and got a real good homesteaders tax break. I am scared it I remove him they would then raise my taxes back to normal so I haven't done anything on that. Our bank has a home equity on the house but have never asked me to change it from joint even tho I went and took him off the checking and added my daughter as the second. I just didn't say anything and figure they know their business so... why ask for trouble.. Good luck

Permalink Reply by Renee Semo on April 5, 2011 at 9:47am

Thanks everyone for your input.  Everything we have was always joint and I am already on the mortgage but I still worry that if they were to make me refinance I wouldnt get approved on my own.  Im going to keep quiet as long as possible.  He is still on all of our bank accounts.  My car is the only thing solely in my name.  We did have wills and power of attorney and everything comes to me so I assume all will be OK.  I worry about everything!  Somedays I think I look for things to worry about.  Have a good day everyone!

Love Renee

 

Permalink Reply by Sheryl McCormick on April 5, 2011 at 5:19pm

Anxiety is hard to escape from when you are faced with these types of concerns on top of grieving the loss of someone so close to you.

Permalink Reply by linda woodbridge on May 11, 2011 at 1:38am

  HELLO EVERYONE,

   I SO KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.WHEN BOB GOT SICK, WE SOLD OUR MOBILE HOME.MOVED INTO AN APT. WE BOTH MADE WILLS, THIS IS A MUST PEOPLE.BOB PASSED AWAY IN 2008.JOINT BANK ACCT.I HAD NO PROBLEMS, WE CHANGED EVERYTHING INTO MY NAME ONLY.BANK ACCT. THAT IS.

 

I WAS A HOLY WRECK.BUT I NEW WHAT I HAD TO DO.I SOLD OUR CAR AS I DO NOT DRIVE. I HAD A VERY HARD TIME TO CALL OUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO TELL THEM BOB PASSED AWAY.THEY TOOK CARE OF ME.I PAYED OFF THE FEW BILLS WE HAD.PAID FOR THE FUNERAL TO, IT WAS VERY NICE.

 

I DO NOT COME HERE VERY MUCH AS I CRY ALL THE TIME CAUSE SOME OF YOU HAVE IT SO HARD. CHILDREN AND A HOME TO DEAL WITH. I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS MY FRIENDS. IN MANY WAYS I FEEL VERY BLESSED FOR THIS PLACE.YOU ARE ALL VERY NICE.THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT.

 

JUST DO YOUR BEST. THATS ALL ANYONE SHOULD EXPECT OF US.RIGHT?

FUNNY THING IS NO ONE EVEN ASKED ME FOR THE WILL?? LOL

EVERYTHING SHOULD JUST COME TO YOU. UNLESS THERE ARE OTHER RULES IN A STATE.I AM NOT SURE OF THIS. MAYBE YOU COULD LET ME KNOW ON THIS. OK.

BYE FOR NOW, LINDA WOODBRIDGE

Permalink Reply by Patricia A. VonBenken on May 17, 2011 at 11:03am

Renee:

The same thing happened to me when my husband passed away.  His name was the only one on the mortgage.  And no will.  I had to go through probate to have the house put into my name.  I called the mortgage company and found out I didn't qualify financially to assume the mortgage so they still have the mortgage in my husbands name but it is listed as "Estate of ".  Like you my mortgage is current and always has been.  I don't know your mortgage company but hopefully they will work with you like mine did.  As far as the auto and house I really didn't lose anything because I still qualified for the multi discount because of the house and cars.  I hope that this helps you and I know how you are feeling, it just doesn't get any easier no matter how hard you try. You just try to hope for the best and the compassion of strangers.

Patricia A. VonBenken