Most people starting the probate process have one primary question: which of the assets need to go through probate? The answer depends on a number of factors, such as the state you reside in and what sort of property the deceased person owned, but there are a few general rules to keep in mind as... Read More

Probate cases involving married couples tend to be relatively simple. In many cases, executor duties and jointly held assets pass automatically to the surviving spouse in the event of a death if one spouse dies without leaving a last will and testament. Of course, this is not the case when the parties involved are divorced,... Read More

When a person who holds an estate dies due to the negligence of another, the estate’s beneficiaries can file wrongful death or survival action in court to receive financial compensation. If you or someone you love has been affected by a wrongful death, here is what you need to know to start legal proceedings. Legal... Read More

If you are considering creating a Last Will and Testament or other estate planning documents, you probably have questions about probate court and what goes on there. After all, making arrangements relating to money and property is something most people have to do at some point. It makes sense to have all the information you... Read More

Online services make it easier than ever to draft your own Last Will and Testament, as well as creating other estate planning documents. For some people with simple estates who do not foresee any complications, this is a viable option. However, there is no substitute for the expertise of an experienced probate lawyer. Here are... Read More

You probably already knew that trusts allow assets to pass easily to heirs, but you might not be aware that there are several different kinds to choose from. Trusts are categorized according to when they go into effect and who owns the assets placed in trust. Here is some background information about each type to... Read More

The majority of people would be surprised to discover a particular fact about estate planning law: every person has an estate plan of some kind, even if they never set foot in a probate lawyer’s office. Each state has laws in place in order to determine what happens when a person dies or becomes incapacitated... Read More

If you are in the process of estate planning or just getting ready for retirement, you have probably come across the term charitable trust. Charitable Remainder Trusts, or CRT’s, allow families to create income and save on taxes, all while benefiting the charity of their choice. The following is a brief introduction to how a... Read More

An advance directive is a written record a person makes regarding their wishes for medical treatment. Many times, this document includes a living will and power of attorney, granting a trusted family member or other loved one the authority to make decisions in the person’s stead. Advance directives are used in cases where the patient... Read More

When making plans for how their estate is to be handled, many people try to avoid taxation as much as possible and simplify probating the assets whenever they can. There are several strategies you can employ to accomplish this. Placing property in trust is one way of ensuring it transfers easily. Another way property owners... Read More