That’s the situation one Ohio man found himself in after his father passed away in February. His dad had a revocable trust in place and had named him as the successor trustee, which sounds like a clean setup on paper. In practice, it meant inheriting fourteen accounts, a family that had stopped speaking, and a…

It started as one year. Then two. Then somewhere in the middle of the avoidance, the problem became too large to look at directly and so he kept not looking at it. He knew it was serious. He didn’t fully understand how serious until an IRS notice arrived a couple of weeks ago and he…

He bought a 2002 Honda Accord for $2,200 two months ago. A week after he got it, someone hit the car. Because he was still on his parents’ insurance policy, he was able to file a claim and received just over $5,200 for the vehicle. He used that money to buy a replacement car he…

His brother hasn’t asked for anything. That detail sits at the center of the whole situation. For nearly four years, he’s been the primary caregiver for their 74-year-old mother, whose cognitive function has declined noticeably since a COVID infection. He’s been managing her care, holding power of attorney, and doing it without a regular job…

Her mother had a stroke last summer and moved into a nursing home on full Medicaid. She has no remaining assets. The house she left behind has had a reverse mortgage on it since 2011, and based on what the family can piece together, the amount owed is significantly higher than what the property would…

He and his wife have been completely no-contact with her three sisters for years. The history behind that decision is extensive. Theft, constant dishonesty, hateful behavior toward their children, a trashed condo after one of them was generously allowed to stay there while getting back on her feet, and nearly $25,000 in unpaid loans that…