Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in New Jersey
My wife and I inherited her grandmothers estate 7 years ago.In the will her grandmother willed my wife and I her home.My wifes brother and sister contested the will and it went on for over a year we finally decided to give them money from the will and took a loan against the home after it was put into our names. We are now in a short sale on the home and the title company told us we owe 16% taxes at closing because I am a D class inheriter.#1- we took 55,000 loan on the home to pay off her relitives souldnt this come off our taxes from the home? #2 its a short sale we are not getting money from the home do we still owe taxes at clocing on it ?
1 Answer from Attorneys
The inheritance tax is based upon the facts as of the grandmother's date of death. Your 50% interest in the house's then value would be taxed at 15%. A tax return should have been filed at the time. If you didn't pay the tax then, you will also owe 10% interest. The post-death facts [estate settlement, short-sale, etc.] do not matter.