When we pass away, we often want our assets to be collected by our loved ones as quickly and easily as possible. When settling an estate, an asset with a designated beneficiary will pass outside of probate and directly to…
If an individual passes away with assets in their name alone and with no designated beneficiary, typically their Will must be submitted with the surrogate’s court located in the county in which the decedent resided. By submitting the decedent’s Will…
Although the time and effort involved will vary with the size of the estate and the family dynamic, being named the executor of a deceased individual’s estate is a thankless job that can be time-consuming and complicated. An executor is…
The COVID-19 Pandemic is a wake-up call for everyone to implement an estate plan, if you do not already have one, or to review your existing estate plan. As a result of the global health crisis, it is critical for…
If at the time of your death, you owned real property solely in your name and in more than one state, your Executor may be required to commence more than one probate proceeding. Ancillary probate may be required in order…
Losing a loved one is incredibly difficult. Emotions are high and the last thing you want to do is handle your loved one’s estate. Unfortunately, sometimes the probate can’t be avoided. So, what do you need to know about a…
Often times when clients make an appointment with our law firm, they have a very specific estate planning concern or issue. They may have a particular focus in mind, such as updating a will or avoiding probate. With a plethora of details…
When a person dies, his or her estate may need to go through probate. If the decedent leaves a will directing how his or her property should be distributed after death, the will must be submitted to the probate court so…
Recently, I was helping a couple with planning. Unfortunately, the husband passed away about two weeks ago. After he died, the family realized that he had one bank account that was in his name alone, with about $3,000 in it. They did not realize this before he passed, otherwise they would have taken care of it.
When it is said that a person has died intestate, it means that they died without leaving a Last Will and Testament. A Last Will and Testament is among the documents we call, “the four must-have legal planning documents.” The other three documents include: Durable Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy, and Living Will.
The purpose of a Last Will and Testament is to express your wishes and identify who is to receive your property and assets upon your passing. It is imperative to complete a Last Will and Testament if you want to have a say on who receives your assets when you are no longer with us.