Probate Initiation: An interested party, often a family member or creditor, petitions the probate court to open an intestate estate. Appointment of Administrator: The court appoints an administrator ...

Probate is the legal process of administering a Decedent’s Last Will & Testament (“Will”), whereby assets owned by the Decedent at death are distributed pursuant to the terms of their Will, or if ...

Probate is a largely misunderstood but generally feared concept. Over half of the respondents to a recent study said that they have no idea about the costs involved in probate, and that they perceive ...

For many families, the administration of a decedent's estate proceeds quietly and efficiently. Assets are gathered, debts are ...

We constantly hear from advisors that we should plan our affairs in such a way as to avoid probate. What does the phrase mean and what property is subject to the probate process? What planning is ...

In John’s case, a trust could have helped his family avoid probate, protect their privacy and minimize estate taxes when his father died. A trust is a legal document that allows you to retain control ...

If you’re named as an executor in a loved one’s will, you’ll be responsible for sorting out their affairs and sharing out their assets. This process is known as estate administration. This generally ...