When you think about the control of your possessions and assets after your death, you probably think of a Will and probate. A Will is a written, legally enforceable declaration that states how you ...

Intestacy occurs when someone dies without a will, leaving their estate to be distributed according to probate court ...

We constantly hear from advisors that we should plan our affairs in such a way as to avoid probate. What does the phrase mean and what property is subject to the probate process? What planning is ...

Probate is the legal process of administering a Decedent’s Last Will & Testament (“Will”), whereby assets owned by the Decedent at death are distributed pursuant to the terms of their Will, or if ...

For many families, the administration of a decedent's estate proceeds quietly and efficiently. Assets are gathered, debts are ...

Portions of this article were drafted using an in-house natural language generation platform. The article was reviewed, fact-checked and edited by our editorial staff. Probate can be an intimidating ...

In presentations regarding essential actions individuals should take regarding inheritance, emphasis is usually placed on drafting a will. This leaves unanswered what happens to assets that do not ...

Estate of Myers v. Commissioner 1 is an important estate-planning case as it suggests the Internal Revenue Service can pursue unpaid estate taxes against its choice of beneficiaries, probate or ...

Up-to-date beneficiary designations are an important part of maintaining the health of your overall estate plan. When naming a beneficiary to an account, such as life insurance, retirement plans, ...