Learn how probate validates a will, pays debts, and distributes assets to heirs. State intestacy laws apply when there is no ...

You see the pattern — through an agreement with the company holding the asset, you have provided for disposition of the asset ...

When you think about the control of your possessions and assets after your death, you probably think of a Will and probate. A Will is a written, legally enforceable declaration that states how you ...

Probate is the legal process of administering a Decedent’s Last Will & Testament (“Will”), whereby assets owned by the Decedent at death are distributed pursuant to the terms of their Will, or if ...

We constantly hear from advisors that we should plan our affairs in such a way as to avoid probate. What does the phrase mean and what property is subject to the probate process? What planning is ...

Portions of this article were drafted using an in-house natural language generation platform. The article was reviewed, fact-checked and edited by our editorial staff. Probate can be an intimidating ...

In presentations regarding essential actions individuals should take regarding inheritance, emphasis is usually placed on drafting a will. This leaves unanswered what happens to assets that do not ...

Before you invest time and money into probate avoidance strategies, it's worth taking a step back to understand whether this ...

Putting everything you own into a living trust can feel like the safest way to help your kids skip probate, but some assets ...

I have heard conflicting information about trusts vs. wills regarding probate. If you only have a will, does it have to go through probate in California? If so, how long does that process take and how ...

Q: I know that I can transfer up to $25,000 without probate. Does that figure include bank accounts that are payable on death? If so, any solutions other than a trust? A: Indiana, like most states, ...

If the goal is to help children bypass probate, a living trust is only part of the strategy, not a catchall bucket for every asset. Some accounts and policies already have built-in ways to sidestep ...