Probate And Estate Administration

After the death of a beloved relative, you learned of the appointment of an acquaintance to administer your relative’s estate. Since that time, your concerns have only grown more urgent. You and your family may be worried that your relative’s estate has not been...

Estates often end up hotly contested in probate court for one main reason: Someone believes that the will doesn’t reflect the testator’s true wishes -- usually either because they believe the testator was subjected to undue influence or lacked testamentary capacity at...

The people that you hire are a liability for your business. They could harass a co-worker or alienate a client, either of which could cost you money. They could cause an accident that hurts someone or damages your equipment.  They might also leave your company to...

When you agree to serve as someone's executor, you know that you're going to have to give up a lot of your free time. It can be a thankless job, especially if the testator doesn't have enough property to actually compensate you for your work. Still, you may be happy...

People who plan their estates often include a compensation for their trustee or executor. After all, that individual has all the responsibility for carrying out their last wishes. You may have accepted this demanding role because you respect and care for the person...

If you have a sibling, then it's unlikely that things were always smooth sailing growing up. You likely fought from time to time, whether it was about who would get to sit in the front seat in the car or who did what chores. Conflicts between siblings don't end in...

Many people associate blind trusts with elected officials who want to assure constituents that their decisions aren’t being made to enrich themselves or their families or that there’s any real or perceived conflict of interest. An independent third-party trustee,...

Your best friend has recently asked you to fill the role of estate executor after he or she dies. You want to help and are committed to the role, but you are also a little afraid of the responsibility. In a best-case scenario, friends who ask others to become their...

Often, people believe their estate planning needs are simple and don’t require getting an attorney involved. It’s certainly easy to find do-it-yourself estate planning documents online. However, every estate plan (even a simple will) needs to be as unique as the...

When a person dies, their estate generally goes to probate. The probate process varies by state, but in most cases, it can take several months or years, depending on the court caseload and the case's complexity. Understanding what causes delays in the probate process...