Many family heirlooms do not have significant financial value. Their worth is more sentimental, tied to the family’s past or cherished memories. For example, a set of dishes used every Christmas could be considered a valuable family heirloom, even though those dishes...
Estate Administration & Probate
What does an executor do during the probate process?
As the executor of a loved one’s will, you have the crucial responsibility of fulfilling their last wishes and acting in the best interests of the estate. But what does this exactly entail? If you are unsure what to do once your loved one passes, here are some of the...
What can disrupt and delay the probate process?
Probate is a very important part of estate administration, and it is done according to the instructions in a will left behind by the testator. Probate gives the executor of the estate ample time to review the will, submit the will to probate court, contact...
1 quick way to give beneficiaries access to funds
When you pass away, you know that your adult children may need to have access to financial accounts fairly quickly. They may need to pay for emergency medical care, for instance, depending on the nature of your passing. They may also have to cover funeral costs and...
What’s ancillary probate (and can you avoid it)?
People in the United States are very mobile, and it isn’t uncommon for a lot of people to maintain homes in more than one state – whether they’re seasonal residences, vacation spots or rental properties. When you die, however, those out-of-state properties can be a...
Why a caregiver turned beneficiary could cause probate litigation
People sometimes talk about probate litigation as though it were innately frivolous. They may imply that those fighting over someone's estate do so out of greed. While that may be the case occasionally, the probate courts don't generally grant hearings over minor...
3 assets that do not belong in your will
A will is one of the most important estate planning tools you can ever create. With a valid will in place, you can have peace of mind knowing that your assets will go to the right beneficiaries when you die. However, not all assets belong in your will. Understanding...
Executors need to do these 3 things immediately
If you were given the privilege to act as your deceased one’s executor then you were given a job of high honor. It goes without saying, your job is one full of trust, responsibility and timeliness to act out the deceased’s wishes. You could be held personally liable...
How undue influence can invalidate a will
A will should reflect the last wishes of its maker on how their estate should be handled after they are gone. But what if they were unduly influenced into creating the will through coercion or other overbearing tactics? In such a case, the court could declare the will...
Selling the home may be one of your biggest jobs as an executor
If you’ve been chosen as the executor of a family member’s or friend’s estate, you may be somewhat relieved that they designated their home to be sold rather than leaving it to one (or more) of their heirs. This can prevent a lot of complications and conflicts. Often,...