One of the more common estate planning assumptions is that you can avoid probate if you have a Will. And honestly, the thought seems to make sense on the surface. You drafted instructions. You signed the paperwork. You did the responsible thing to handle all of life’s what-ifs. So that must mean everything that happens…
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Many families consider probate a time-consuming, emotional, and costly legal process. To make matters worse in their eyes, they genuinely believe it is unavoidable. In other words, facing it head-on after the death of a loved one is the only way. While it is true that it is often necessary for a probate court to…
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A common misconception among people who have a Last Will and Testament is that it helps avoid probate, and it is easy to see why there is so much confusion. After all, a valid Will is supposed to give you control over how your assets are distributed and final wishes are carried out. With so…
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A Last Will and Testament is a legal document that lists all your property and how you wish for it to be distributed after you are gone. We have written about wills plenty of times, and it should go without saying that having one is extremely important. The problem is that many people do not…
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Very early in the estate planning process, you will be asked to select one or several people in your newly-crafted will or trust to pass your assets and other belongings to after you die. This is called a beneficiary, though you may have also heard the term “heir” thrown around. Trust us when we say…
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A question that our estate planning attorneys get asked a lot is, “what’s the difference between an executor and an administrator?” It’s understandable to see so much confusion over these two terms. After all, both generally perform similar duties. Below is a brief breakdown of the difference between an executor and an administrator. Executor vs.…
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