Working through grief following the death of a loved one is never easy. If the deceased appointed you to be the executor of their estate, it means that they are counting on you to be able to execute their estate plan according to their wishes. However, the probate...
Winding up a deceased person’s estate is necessary from both legal and emotional standpoints. Loved ones need the closure that comes with wrapping up the deceased’s earthly possessions so they can move through the grieving process. And this includes attending to the...
A trust contest can jeopardize your last wishes, deplete your estate and create a lasting rift in your family. Strange things happen – or rather, people act strangely – when money is at stake. A trust content can divide a family for generations. Besides, the cost of...
Your mom dies and leaves everything she and your dad built up together to Brad, her new boyfriend. While you are happy that Mom found happiness with a 21-year-old croupier after dad died, you are not so delighted at being cut out of the will. What is more, you are...
When someone you love dies, your grief dominates the first few weeks after their passing. However, eventually, you have to start thinking about their legacy and your future. Whether you lost a spouse or parent, upholding their last wishes is typically a way to respect...
One of the reasons that people in Ohio write their will is to lessen or eliminate the possibility of ugly, drawn-out legal arguments erupting over who gets their assets after they die. If you make the distribution of what you owned clear in your will, hopefully, that...
Two prominent senators wrote to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) last week to express concerns about the guardianship system. Guardians play a vital role in caring for an estimated 1.3 million people, yet sometimes...
Many people put off making a will until they absolutely have to. Some never do it at all, thinking it’s morbid or unnecessary. But what if you have a loved one who has made a will and you suspect that the document is not valid? There can be legitimate reasons for your...
Payable-on-death designations are used on all kinds of financial accounts, including savings and checking accounts. They provide an easy (and immediate) way for money to transfer to someone else as soon as the owner of the account passes away. But a payable-on-death...
The probate process can be long and tedious for those involved, especially if there is a dispute. Probate happens for many estates in Ohio, but when an estate plan is set up correctly and everything goes smoothly, it usually takes between six months and a year. When...
