When a loved one dies and a trust exists, families often breathe a sigh of relief—no court, no probate, no hassle. But that’s only half true. A trust avoids probate, not the legal work that follows. Administering it still means valuing assets, fo…
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When someone is trusted to manage another person’s assets or make decisions on their behalf, they’re held to a high standard of care. This responsibility is called a fiduciary duty, and it’s a big deal, especially in probate law. But what happe…
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Probate is the process of settling a deceased person’s estate through the probate court system. Being named the personal representative of another person’s estate is a big responsibility; you are charged with carrying out someone’s last wishes,…
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For many people, one of the primary goals of estate planning, other than providing for their family, is to avoid probate. Estate planning attorneys encourage people to keep their assets out of probate so often, in fact, that it is common for people t…
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Many people, when asked about their estate planning goals, say that they want to avoid probate. Even if they are not entirely sure what the probate process involves, they have the sense that avoiding probate is a good thing—and often, they are righ…
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Most people expect that after their death, their property will go to their family. But what exactly does that mean? If you adopt a child, do they have the same inheritance rights under the law as any biological children you have? What about stepchild…
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These words don’t usually come up in conversation, but if you have recently been involved in dealing with a loved one’s estate, you may have heard the words “testate” and “intestate” and wondered what they mean. They sound very similar, b…
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If someone close to you has recently died, you may have received communication from the “personal representative of the estate.” In this blog post, we’ll discuss what a personal representative is, what they do, and what your rights are if a per…
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The days and weeks after a loved one’s death are difficult, as you deal with your grief and begin adjusting to life without your family member. Unfortunately, the mourning period often involves the need to probate your loved one’s estate. Probate…
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Trusts have become increasingly popular as an estate planning tool in recent years. Trusts aren’t just for the wealthy. They are useful for anyone who does not want their assets to have to go through probate at their death. A trust is a legal relat…
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