Category Archives: Probate
How Does the Probate Process Work?
When a loved one dies, there are many issues that need immediate attention in order to hold the funeral and cover pressing expenses. However, the bulk of dealing with the aftermath of death is addressing the distribution of the deceased’s assets. Hopefully, he/she executed an estate plan that outlines how property should be divided,… Read More »
Who Is Responsible for Remaining Debts after Death?
Estate planning is primarily about settling two issues: distributing property to surviving heirs and limiting one’s exposure to liability for death-related taxes. In line with the second issue is the question of settling a loved one’s remaining debts after death. All estates which pass through probate, which is a substantial number, must provide notice… Read More »
Avoiding the Stress of Probate
When someone dies, typically, they will have some amount of property that needs to be distributed to new owners, hopefully through an established estate plan. Depending on the type of property involved and the overall value, the law may require the family to go through the probate process before a transfer of assets is… Read More »
Don’t Forget about Your Closest Companion – Your Pet
Animals can bring their owners years of joy and companionship that are hard to quantify or adequately describe. Given how much pets mean to owners, determining what will happen to them after one dies is important to the pet’s wellbeing and long-term care. Factoring pets into an estate plan may not be an obvious… Read More »
Probate Property, Title, and the Distribution of an Estate
Losing a loved one is almost guaranteed to cause a shock, regardless of how anticipated the death was, and trying to cope with the physical absence of the person is typically at the forefront of survivors’ minds in the days immediately following the passing – not necessarily the specific contents or existence of an… Read More »
The Pros and Cons of Probate
When friends and family learn someone is thinking about an estate plan, it is not uncommon to hear a lot of conflicting advice. Some people will say an estate plan is unnecessary and not worth the expense. Others will argue in favor of either setting up a trust or just sticking with a will…. Read More »
How Probate Impacts Your Estate Plan
Choosing the right estate plan is one of the most important decisions a person can make, and one that will have long-term repercussions for surviving family members. Probate is a legal proceeding to finalize someone’s affairs after their death. The purpose of a probate proceeding is for the court to identify the applicable Will… Read More »
