You may have heard the word "probate" referred to without fully understanding what it is all about. Briefly described, probate is a legal process that your estate must pass through before the heirs to the estate receive their inheritances. Because it is a legal process it takes place under the auspices of the probate court that is local to the deceased. So, your last will is not just read among family members. It must be deemed valid by the court, and anybody who wanted to … [Read more...] about Probate Expertise Makes All The Difference
Probate
How Wills Are Used In Estate Planning
In the field of estate planning there are many different legal instruments that are utilized, and some of these are rather complex and not commonly understood. One exception would be the last Will and testament, but the fact is that there are other types of Wills to consider as well. With a last will you state your wishes regarding how your assets will be transferred to your loved ones after you pass away. While it could seem as though this is a simple and efficient choice with … [Read more...] about How Wills Are Used In Estate Planning
Don't Let Trusts Intimidate You
When you are thinking about how you will be arranging for the distribution of your resources to your heirs after you pass away you may automatically assume that a last will is your only option. In fact, there are other possibilities and you should not let a lack of information intimidate you. Expert advice is out there, and there is no reason to make assumptions that limit you. If you discuss your unique situation with a licensed and experienced Indianapolis estate planning lawyer he or … [Read more...] about Don't Let Trusts Intimidate You
The Appeal Of Probate Avoidance
Probate can be simply and briefly defined as the legal process of estate administration. When you use a last will to direct the transfer of your assets to your heirs your estate must be probated before anyone receives their inheritances. This process serves a purpose, but at the same time it can prevent a smooth, timely, cost-effective, and efficient distribution of resources to your loved ones. Exactly how long probate will take depends on the jurisdiction in question and the … [Read more...] about The Appeal Of Probate Avoidance
The Role Of A Probate Attorney
The typical layperson is probably not going to have a lot of knowledge about the intricacies of estate planning. There is certainly nothing wrong with this because everyone has his or her own area of expertise and you can't know everything about everything. With the above in mind, some people are under the impression that a last will is something that is only read among family members. In fact, other interested parties have a right to seek satisfaction from the estate. In … [Read more...] about The Role Of A Probate Attorney
The Implications Of Dying Intestate
In spite of the fact that estate planning is one of the foundational responsibilities that go along with adulthood, only around half of Americans have any type of an estate plan in place. The term that is utilized to describe the condition of dying without a will or any other type of estate planning document directing the transfer of your assets is "intestacy." If you were to pass away intestate, the probate court would be charged with the responsibility of sorting out your final … [Read more...] about The Implications Of Dying Intestate
Pay On Death Accounts For Probate Avoidance
"Probate avoidance" is a term that you will hear often when you begin to do some research into the subject of estate planning. If you have no idea what probate is let alone why you would want to avoid it let's start by providing a brief explanation. Probate is a legal process that takes place under the auspices of the probate or surrogate court. The court is responsible for determining whether or not the last will that is presented is in fact valid. If it is, the probate … [Read more...] about Pay On Death Accounts For Probate Avoidance
Estate Planning: Probate Can Complicate Things
The overarching goal of estate planning is to arrange for the smooth and efficient distribution of your assets to your selected heirs after your death. A lot of people automatically assume that the best way to do this is to execute a last will. Obviously you can go this route if you want to, but if you do your estate is going to have to pass through probate, and there can be some complications that go along with this process. If you're like most people you would prefer that your … [Read more...] about Estate Planning: Probate Can Complicate Things
A Revocable Living Trust Can Enable Probate Avoidance
When you come to the conclusion that it is time to take action and put an estate plan in place one of the things that you are going to have to decide on will be the vehicle or vehicles of asset transfer. To many people this equates to the creation of a last will, but a last will is not your only option. In fact, a lot of people would say that it is not the best choice because your estate has to pass through probate when you use a last will as your primary asset transfer … [Read more...] about A Revocable Living Trust Can Enable Probate Avoidance
The Probate Process, Your Estate, & Your Executor
There are people who are not aware of the fact that your last will is not something that is only going to be shared in private among your family members. When you use a last will as your primary vehicle of asset transfer, your estate must be probated. During this time the probate court will examine the will and attest to its validity. If anybody wanted to step forward and contest your wishes they would present their arguments in front of this court. At the same time, … [Read more...] about The Probate Process, Your Estate, & Your Executor
