When you take a will to probate, you expect everything to go smoothly. However, this is not always the case. An interested party can contest it on different grounds. And in some cases, you may be the primary party of the contest. If a will is contested, as an...
When a loved one dies, finding out that they omitted you from their will can be difficult to deal with. Your emotions may be further aggravated if you learn that the person they have bequeathed their assets to is someone you do not believe to be deserving of their...
Sentimental items are often at the heart of estate disputes. The exact items can vary widely from family to family, but often include things like books, artwork, furniture and even everyday trinkets like serving dishes or clothes. These disputes can sometimes be a bit...
A will is one of the most important legal documents you could ever create. At its most basic level, a will outlines your wishes with regard to what you want to happen to your assets when you die. Without a will in place at the time of your death, the ways in which...
When someone owns a home, it may be the largest asset that they hope to pass to their children or other beneficiaries when they die. Homes represent many years of someone's wages and a lifetime of diligent upkeep. Unfortunately, the real property owned by someone who...
When your loved one created a trust and named you as one of the beneficiaries, they also appointed a trustee. This is the person or entity tasked with managing trust assets on your behalf. The trustee owes the trust beneficiaries a fiduciary duty, and they must always...
An important event is coming up in American history; for some people, it has already begun. This event is known as the “Great Wealth Transfer,” and it has been said to be the biggest transfer of wealth from one generation to the next to ever occur in human history....
Being chosen as an administrator of someone’s estate can be an honor. However, it can also be problematic if you ignore certain things. As an administrator, you are responsible for distributing an estate to the heirs. In addition, you must ensure all the debts the...
A will should represent the final wishes of the testator in full. Unfortunately, there are occasions when this does not happen. If this is the case, then it is possible for concerned parties to contest the will during probate. This can be a complex process, so it’s...
Most people would never dream of frivolously challenging a loved one's estate. They know that probate litigation will reduce what everyone inherits and delay the process of distributing assets. Even if someone is unhappy with how their parent or other family member...