When was the last time you updated your will? If you’ve married, divorced, have a growing family, or acquired new property, then it’s time to make adjustments. If you don't update your will, your most recent copy is legally binding. This can create a problem if your family has grown and now includes children, grandchildren, etc. If your heirs aren't... Read More
A detailed estate plan includes documents overseeing your financial, medical, and personal affairs. A role you should consider adding in your estate plan is an executor. The executor acts as your representative, and works with a probate court to distribute your possessions to your loved ones. The executor is the point of contact during the probate process between a judge,... Read More
Drafting a will may be an essential part of an estate plan, but if done incompletely, a probate court may not validate it. Several steps must first be taken before beneficiaries can receive any assets. It’s also noteworthy to know that probate does not begin until an executor files a request to start the process. Learn more about the probate... Read More
Did you know that a will must first go through the probate process upon a person’s passing before beneficiaries can receive the possessions left to them? The probate process determines whether a will will be used to pay off debts and/or owed taxes, as well as if it’s legally valid. Once a probate judge validates a will, beneficiaries and heirs... Read More
We think it’s fair to say that it can be an overbearing struggle to have to deal with your recently deceased loved one’s belongings. This can be for a number of reasons, but the most important would perhaps be the sentimental value these belongings have. If the deceased had a will, then knowing how these personal effects will be handled... Read More
If you intend to draft a will, you should first know that a probate court must review it before your loved ones can receive any property listed within. Some people may not like this idea, but without a will, you could be leaving the distribution of your property up to chance. By that, we mean that without a will, upon... Read More
Probate law encompasses many topics that can oftentimes be hard to handle on one’s own. One of these is determining what’s to become of personal belongings such as vehicles, homes, jewelry, furniture, etc. through a will. Will it be handed down to your children and other heirs or would you prefer to donate it to a better cause? These are... Read More
One of the biggest misconceptions about estate planning is that it’s a luxury reserved for the wealthy. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Many of us have valuables that we’d love to pass onto family or friends. These can include personal possessions like cars, a home or even bank accounts. The truth of the matter is that anyone can... Read More
One of the most difficult times a family can endure is when a loved one, in this case a parent, passes away. It’s especially difficult when the death causes riffs between family members. These riffs can be caused over a variety of reasons. If you’re part of a family that’s considering contesting a parent’s will, then it’s very important to... Read More
We all work for our money and do our best to make smart choices that will affect our loved ones positively after we pass, and it’s only natural to want some type of control over said assets (or at least what happens to them). It doesn’t matter if you’ve lived modestly your entire life, though. Having a strategy so that... Read More