When a person dies without proper planning, their estate enters a public legal process that can last months—sometimes ...

Probating an estate is an expensive, time-consuming and sometimes adversarial affair. It is possible, and sometimes advisable, to avoid probate. With the help of an estate planner and, perhaps, an ...

Probate can be a real headache, and it’s something most folks want to dodge if they can. It’s not just about the red tape; it ...

Probate is the court procedure of proving a will after someone (the decedent) who has completed his or her last will and testament dies. If you have a will and pass away, you have passed away testate ...

Sometimes, not always, when a person dies — even if they left a will — a legal process called probate ensues. Probate is ...

Dealing with the death of a loved one is upsetting and stressful enough, but there are specific and sometimes complex rules to follow if you have been put in charge of managing their estate. The ins ...

One of the essential steps in the probate process is filing an inventory of all the assets that are part of the estate. This job is the responsibility of the executor, and it’s often no small feat. It ...

Reader Question: How can I avoid probate at death? Answer: Probate is a court administered process whereby at death, the court oversees the transfer of your probate property from your name to the ...

Probate is known for being an unnecessarily complicated and lengthy procedure. Even when the estate being probated is fairly simple and straightforward, proceedings can go on for some time, depending ...