Personal representatives or executors often commit a year or more of their time to estate administration. They carry out the last wishes of the deceased individual, repay creditors and manage estate resources. They are in a positi…
An executor is responsible for managing an estate's assets after a loved one has passed away. During the probate process, the executor will resolve the estate's debts, file taxes and distribute any remaining assets to beneficiarie…
Trusts are often created to protect and distribute assets for family members, charities or others with specific intentions in mind. A person appointed to oversee a trust plays a crucial role in making sure these goals are respecte…
Many people have debt as adults. This can come from a variety of reasons, such as medical care, major purchases and credit cards. One question that often arises after the person passes away is who is responsible for those debts, b…
When contesting a will, proving that the deceased lacked testamentary capacity at the time of execution represents one of the most common and potentially successful grounds for challenging the document's validity. Successfully ch…
A medical power of attorney allows an agent to act on behalf of another person, making their medical decisions. This is often part of an estate plan, dealing with long-term care planning or end-of-life decisions. The agent may get…
Disputes about estates often stem from questions about whether the person who created the will or trust understood the implications of what they were doing. These questions often come up when the estate plan’s components aren’t se…
Many people pass away with debts that still need to be covered because debts don’t go away when a person dies. In most cases, the debts will have to be covered as part of the probate process. This is handled by the estate administ…
Trust litigation often follows inappropriate conduct by the trustee. Trust beneficiaries can ask the courts to remove the trustee because of their misconduct. In some cases, they can even ask to hold an individual financially acco…
When a loved one passes away, the distribution of their estate is often handled through probate or trust administration. Heirs and beneficiaries expect a fair and transparent process, but sometimes defective accounting can put an …
A person who makes an estate plan should be of sound mind and body. The contents of their estate plan should be strictly based on their own wishes and what’s legal. It’s against the law for anyone with authority or power over an i…
Probate disputes can be very complicated. They can also be highly emotional, as they tend to happen at a relatively difficult time—after a loved one’s passing. That being said, there are some steps that people can take to reduce t…
