People may have Medicare and other insurance simultaneously for several reasons.
An estate is administered via probate by naming a personal representative (executor) and distributing assets to beneficiaries. It also requires paying the decedent’s outstanding debts and federal and state taxes. Each state has different laws determining if probate is necessary…
Intestacy laws determine how the decedent's property will be distributed if your loved one died without a will. Also known as intestate succession, it has similarities to the probate process when a will is present. Still, the terms are not…
Most estate planning attorneys can help you avoid probate altogether or minimize its impact. Probate proceedings are part of the public record and can be very time-consuming and expensive. However, in nearly every case, some probate is necessary, so it…
Probate court is where the probate process takes place, most people are familiar with the fact that it takes place following someone's death. Unfortunately, fewer people know that it can be a long and complicated process. It can sometimes take…
Trusts are known to all of us, often in reference to those who are beneficiaries of trust funds. Some may believe that only wealthy people have trusts, but they are common and useful tools when creating estate plans of all…
An executor named in a will is required to make public the date of death of the testator, usually by publishing it in a local newspaper. In part, this information serves as notice to creditors if the decedent has an outstanding…
Probate, or the process of processing a decedent's will, is conducted by judicial officials including probate judges. While state probate laws may vary, the general process is quite similar across the country. Probate is the process of proving wills for decedents’.…
Using legal techniques to avoid probate can save your estate tax dollars, keep your affairs private, and eliminate the need for court approvals at every step. It can save you time, frustration, and in many cases, significant attorney and court…