The probate process is time-consuming, it can be costly, and it is public. Anyone, who is interested, can find out how you planned your estate.  If avoiding probate is a goal, you could utilize a revocable living trust. When this type of trust has been established, the trustee can distribute assets to the beneficiaries without having to go through a probate.  You could also plan for possible incapacity when you have a revocable living trust. A disability trustee could be empowered to administer … [Read more...] about Using Living Trusts for Avoiding Probate

Providing for your loved ones after you pass away is the final act of giving that you are capable of, and it involves all of the assets and personal possessions that you have been able to accumulate throughout your life. Given the enormity of the stakes involved you do not want to take chances with the creation of your last will. For this reason, be sure to discuss your options with our Charlotte probate lawyer. Beware of do-it-yourself estate planning You will see certain companies on the … [Read more...] about A Few Tips From Our Charlotte Probate Lawyer

You may think the contents of a last will are just between you and your family. In reality, probate courts will be involved when you use a last will to distribute your assets after you die. To avoid issues with the validity of your will, our Ashland probate lawyer recommends self proving wills. How wills and probate work When you create a will, you should nominate an executor in the document. The executor administers the estate after you pass away, and this individual handles the business of … [Read more...] about Self Proving Wills and Other Suggestions From Our Ashland Probate Lawyer

While being named as an executor of an estate is a real honor, there’s more to the role than most people think. Let our Ashland probate attorney share what every executor should know. When a loved one asks you to serve as an executor of an estate, chances are that your first thought isn’t about all the work that job requires. If you’re like most people, there’s an initial rush of satisfaction and a feeling that you’ve just been given a tremendous honor. Serving as an executor is an honor and a … [Read more...] about Ashland Probate Attorney Gives Advice to Executors

You may assume that you should use a last will to state your final wishes for your asset. It can seem like the simplest estate planning document so it is natural to think that assets would be distributed right after your death if you use a will. While this may seem logical, things actually take place slowly when you use a will as a vehicle of asset transfer. The executor or personal representative would be required to admit the will to probate after you pass away, and the inheritors would not … [Read more...] about Will My Estate Definitely Pass Through Probate?

You should understand some basic facts about the probate process when you are planning your estate. Many people go forward without enough information, and as a result, they make errors that yield unintended consequences. If you have property in your direct and sole personal possession at the time of your death, it may become probate property. It would not be distributed to your heirs until the probate process is completed. This is a rather unappealing prospect because probate can be … [Read more...] about Probate-Free Asset Transfers: A Primer

There are some intricacies that you may not take into consideration when you are planning your estate, and you may make decisions without understanding all the facts. With this in mind, we will look at Kentucky probate laws in this post, and we will examine some transfers that would not be subject to the probate process. Kentucky Probate Laws The heirs to your estate are not the only ones who may have an interest in it. People sometimes pass away with debt, and other interested parties may have … [Read more...] about A Look at Kentucky Probate Laws

The legal process of probate is something that you should explore when you are trying to understand how you should plan your estate. This process is a factor if you are in direct personal possession of property at the time of your passing, and this would be true even if you have a last will. Legal Protections Legal protections do not vanish when someone passes away. For example, let's say that you lent a person $100,000, and you had a contract with this individual that required him to pay you … [Read more...] about What Do You Know About the Probate Process?