Probate

Simply putting personal wishes in writing isn't enough to create an estate plan. Testators have to ensure that their documents comply with state law and that their loved ones know where to find their documents after they die. Some people write their own wills by hand,...

The probate process, which involves the legal handling of a deceased person’s estate, can often take longer than expected, sometimes dragging on for months or even years.  While the timeline can fluctuate depending on the size and intricacy of the estate, there are...

Probate is the legal process that empowers the courts to oversee estate administration in the wake of an individual’s death. While probate does help to ensure that the deceased's wishes are honored and their debts are settled, it can be a frustrating and...

Probate is the legal process of settling a deceased individual's estate and can be a source of tension among beneficiaries. Often, the person caught up in estate disputes or will contests is the estate executor, who is only trying to fulfill their duties. Minimizing...

Whether someone has created a trust or a will as their main estate planning instrument, they likely selected someone they trusted to handle probate matters. Both trust and estate administration can require long-term commitment with minimal compensation. People often...

Estate planning is a complex process that requires a careful review of an individual’s personal circumstances. Testators planning their estates need to decide what should happen with their property and also who should provide support for their closest family members....

The distribution of an estate’s assets may end up delayed in probate court due to a variety of different issues. Sometimes, people raise concerns about the behavior of the representative of the estate and ask the courts to intervene. Other times, creditor claims...

When your parents pass away, they have remaining debt. Maybe you and your siblings discover that they owe a significant amount of money on credit cards, they still have a mortgage on their house and they have other outstanding debts they haven’t paid. This could even...

Undue influence is one common reason that is cited when someone wants to challenge a will. They believe that the will does not reflect the deceased person’s wishes, and the reason that they give is that the elderly person was manipulated. This usually means that...

Settling someone's financial matters is a big part of the probate process. If you are the executor or personal representative of an estate, you must fulfill the deceased person's financial obligations to others. You will have to pay their final bills, contact their...