Learn how probate validates a will, pays debts, and distributes assets to heirs. State intestacy laws apply when there is no ...

Probate is the legal process that happens after someone dies. It distributes the assets and pays any debts or taxes. If there's a will, you might wonder if probate is needed. Sometimes, probate 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 ...

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 ...

Probate is the legal process for distributing your property after you die. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain ...

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 ...

It’s cloak and dagger time. Last week, while revisiting a series I wrote about avoiding probate, I mentioned another tactic, holding wealth in assets that don’t require probate, s asuchlike gold bars.

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 ...

I have heard conflicting information about trusts vs. wills regarding probate. If you only have a will, does it have to go through probate in California? If so, how long does that process take and how ...

The probate process in Texas will rely heavily on what is involved in the estate, the number of heirs and how much planning was done before the decedent's passing. Factors such as the size of the ...