How Estate Plans Can Help Family Members Avoid Legal Battles

April 17, 2025
Brian Hicks
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Probate & Trust Administration

The ongoing rivalries among the members of the Murdoch family or between Prince William and the Duke of Sussex may seem far from everyday reality. Yet drama, lost time, and broken relationships are a genuine problem in many immediate families,...

Glasses, black pen and calculator sit on top of paperwork titled Estate Planning

11 Reasons You Need to Create an Estate Plan

October 3, 2024
Brian Hicks
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Probate & Trust Administration, Wills & Trusts

Many people believe estate plans are only for extremely wealthy families who are looking to reap tax benefits. Or they may delay estate planning because they are young. Others do not understand why an estate plan is important in the...

A tan color building with the name Probate Court above an arched doorway

Proper Estate Planning Reduces Issues of Probate

September 26, 2024
Brian Hicks
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Probate & Trust Administration

Probate is a legal process that happens after someone dies. While probate can be complex, lengthy, and expensive, an estate planning attorney or probate attorney can help mitigate unwanted risks. They will be able to anticipate what might happen and...

Probate Process: A General Timeline

August 26, 2024
Brian Hicks
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Probate & Trust Administration

Probate is the legal process of formally recognizing a will after a person dies, naming or validating an executor to administer the estate, and distributing assets to intended beneficiaries. It also requires paying the decedent’s outstanding debts and federal and state...

Reducing the Risk of a Family Fight in Probate Court

March 21, 2024
Tim Larson
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Probate & Trust Administration

Many family circumstances can increase the risk of probate litigation. High-risk factors that often bring about probate litigation can include sibling rivalry, second marriages without a prenuptial agreement, and dysfunctional family dynamics. Also, a non-standard estate plan may treat children...

New Year’s Resolution: Get That Estate Plan Done

January 18, 2024
Tim Larson
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Probate & Trust Administration, Wills & Trusts

Visiting your attorney to get your estate plan done is one New Year's resolution that you should definitely keep. None of us knows whether or when we may find ourselves seriously injured or sick. But if it does happen, you...

What to Know About Probate: Estate Planning Basics

December 28, 2023
Tim Larson
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Probate & Trust Administration

Most estate planning attorneys can help you craft an estate plan that minimizes or avoids probate altogether. Probate proceedings are part of the public record and can be very time-consuming and expensive. However, in nearly every case, to some extent...

3 Common Probate Questions: Estate Planning Basics

September 14, 2023
Tim Larson
Estate Planning, Our Blog, Probate & Trust Administration

When people pass away, they leave behind assets, property, and possessions that can have sentimental and real value for surviving family members and loved ones. Everything that an individual owns upon their death is known as their estate. According to...

Wills for Blended Families

March 6, 2023
Tim Larson
Estate Planning

It is common for American families to have stepchildren, who are usually treated the same as biological children when it comes to inheritance. This is particularly true where stepchildren are part of a blended family from an early age. Biological…

The Probate Timeline

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…