There are many scenarios in which families may have questions about the validity of estate planning documents or what the deceased person truly intended. The discovery of multiple different estate plans drafted by the same person can leave everyone questioning what...
Wills may contain instructions that seem to contradict what a deceased individual previously discussed with their family members during their lifetime. In cases where the contents of an estate plan surprise or disappoint those closest to the deceased individual,...
Probate is the legal procedure used to validate and authenticate a deceased person's will. The procedure is conducted via the courts. The process involves settling the deceased's outstanding taxes and debts, ascertaining the worth of their assets and transferring any...
Some testators know what assets they wish to leave for specific family members. Their children may have already requested certain resources or heirlooms, or testators may make choices based on meaningful memories that they share with their beneficiaries. Others don't...
Just as no one can predict death, no deceased individual could have anticipated leaving debts that their estate’s assets would not be able to cover. As unfortunate as it is for creditors and heirs, it is only realistic for the law to have the estate pay what it can to...
If you’ve been named the executor (sometimes known as administrator or personal representative) of a loved one’s or friend’s estate, one of the first things you need to do after they pass away is to determine what debts they left. Certainly, this needs to be done...
