Probate

If you find yourself in the position of administering the estate of a recently deceased loved one, you may feel a little overwhelmed if this is your first time overseeing the probate of an estate. Along with trying to navigate a legal process with which you are unfamiliar, you ae also likely still grieving the loss of your loved one. Although it is always wise to consult with an experienced attorney when faced with the need to probate an estate, the Indianapolis probate attorneys at Frank & … [Read more...] about Top 5 Probate Mistakes You Can Avoid Making

When a family member or loved one passes away, there is usually a grieving period that follows. At the same time, there are legal and practical steps that must be taken to administer the decedent’s estate. If you recently lost someone and you have reason to believe you will inherit from the estate, you may be struggling with how to proceed. If so, the Indianapolis probate attorneys at Frank & Kraft discuss claiming your inheritance and strategies for beneficiaries going through probate in … [Read more...] about Claiming Your Inheritance: Strategies for Beneficiaries Going Through Probate in Indiana

When a family member or loved one passes away, a period of grieving typically follows. Although the legalities of your loved one’s death may not be at the forefront of your mind during the grieving period, you may eventually focus on the fact that you were left an inheritance. How do you get the inheritance left to you though? What steps do you need to take? Who is responsible for giving you your inheritance? To try and answer some of these questions, the Indianapolis probate attorneys at Frank … [Read more...] about How Do I Access My Inheritance?

A common goal found in many comprehensive estate plans is probate avoidance. Avoiding probate entirely may be impossible; however, with some careful planning you can create an estate plan that dramatically reduces the amount of time and money spent on the probate of your estate. That, in turn, may make much needed assets available to loved ones much sooner after your death. The Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft discuss common estate planning tools that can help your … [Read more...] about How to Avoid Probate

A comprehensive estate plan should include tools and strategies aimed at accomplishing various interrelated goals. For many people, probate avoidance is one of those goals. Along with the time it takes to get an estate through the probate process, the cost of probate is a primary reason to include probate avoidance strategies in your estate plan. To further explain, the Indianapolis probate attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain some common probate fees in Indiana. Probate Basics Most … [Read more...] about What Are the Probate Fees in Indiana?

Although learning that a loved one passed away may result in a period of grieving, finding out that you were left an inheritance is welcome news. Unfortunately, you may be waiting for a long time before you receive that inheritance. If the decedent’s estate is required to go through probate, it could take a year or longer before your inheritance can be released to you.  Why does probate take so long? The Indianapolis probate attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain how long you may need to … [Read more...] about How Long Do I Have to Wait to Receive My Inheritance?

You have likely heard that your estate plan should be structured to avoid probate to the extent possible. Unless you have been through the probate process before, however, you may be wondering why so much estate planning time and effort is devoted to worrying about probate. What is it that can go wrong during probate? To help answer that question, an Indianapolis estate planning attorney at Frank & Kraft discusses what can go wrong during probate and how a comprehensive estate plan can … [Read more...] about What Can Go Wrong during Probate?

If you were appointed to be the Executor of the estate in the decedent’s Last Will and Testament, time is of the essence when it comes to safeguarding your loved one’s estate. As such, you need to get started in your role as Executor as soon as possible. If you have never served as an Executor, you may not know where or how to begin. To get you started, the Indianapolis probate attorneys at Frank and Kraft explain some common steps involved in probating an estate. Probate Basics Over the … [Read more...] about What Are the Steps Involved in Probating an Estate?

Throughout the course of your lifetime you will likely need the assistance and/or guidance of several different types of attorneys. Often, it is clear what type of attorney you need based on the type of legal issue you have. For example, if you find yourself under arrest you clearly need to retain the services of a criminal defense attorney. Likewise, if you decide to end a marriage, you need a family law attorney to represent you in the divorce. With other types of legal matters, however, it … [Read more...] about What Do Probate Lawyers Do?

If your mother recently passed away, you are undoubtedly mourning her loss. The last thing you probably want to focus on is probating her estate. Someone, however, needs to do so. If it appears as though you are the one who will need to take control of the administration of your mother’s estate, one of the first decisions you need to make is to decide whether formal probate is necessary. It is always best to consult with an experienced probate attorney when making such an important decision. In … [Read more...] about Is Probate Necessary after My Mother Passed Away?