Going through estate litigation after the passing of a loved one can be a very distressing thing to go through. That's why it's important that you seek support from friends and those who will advocate for you. Knowing that you are not going through this alone and...
The probate process is already lengthy enough -- but it can get a lot longer if there’s a problem identifying or locating the decedent’s heirs. Until there’s been a reasonable effort to locate any unknown or missing heirs, nothing can move forward. How an executor can...
When people open financial accounts, such as checking, savings, or money market accounts, they can name a beneficiary who will receive the balance if the owner passes away. This is an important component of an estate plan because it holds more weight than a will. ...
There are plenty of estate disputes that center around financial value. One heir gets less than another and contests the will on the grounds that the heir who got more money used undue influence to get it, for example. Money is a major source of conflict, especially...
“What? That old thing?” Some people boast about the value of the objects they own. Others take the opposite approach, downplaying the cost of a painting or piece of furniture they “found in a thrift store.” They may care so little about an item’s monetary value that...
Estate administration is somewhat notorious for being a time-consuming process. While you may hope to receive your share of the inheritance promised in the estate plan quickly, the executor has many things they have to do before they can distribute assets to you and...
Losing a loved one is hard. While you struggle to find a way to cope with the emotional fallout of your loss, things can be made worse when your loved one's estate plan doesn't unfold as expected. If you feel like you’ve been unfairly cut out of a will, then as...
When a loved one passes away, it isn’t uncommon for family members to become entangled in a dispute about their inheritance. If you will be the executor to your parents’ estate, you can end up having to deal with these squabbles and may need to work with an estate...
Most people understand the importance of a will. These legal documents outline a person’s final wishes and how they wish to divide their belongings, real estate and money among heirs. A will also names an administrator or executor, usually a close family member, who...
When a person dies, their assets enter a legal process called probate. During the process, a court looks at the deceased’s wills, trusts and insurance policies to divide an estate per the deceased’s wishes. Unfortunately, probate is not cheap. Court fees and fines...
