Surviving family members could find themselves in a tough spot when addressing matters regarding the deceased’s estate. When it undergoes the probate process, the court could identify a person who could represent the estate based on the deceased’s will or the law....
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Estate Planning
How does the court choose an estate administrator?
When someone dies, it is up to their surviving family members to manage their estate correctly. A simple process exists to distribute the deceased's assets but could enter probate based on the circumstances. After starting the probate case, the court could appoint an...
Why is end-of-life planning important?
In estate planning, it is common to write down your wishes for your final days, including medical care, funeral and burial arrangements. This tool is called an end-of-life plan. While creating this plan might seem dramatic at first, especially if you start young and...
Documents your estate plan should include
Although most people are familiar with estate planning, few understand all of the elements that an estate plan should include. You probably have a will and may have established a trust for some of your assets, but there are other forms you should consider. There are...
What are the benefits of a special needs trust?
Parents want the best for their children. Whenever they make any decision involving their sons or daughters, they carefully look for options that will benefit their children the most. This also applies to planning for the future. In estate planning, parents consider...
Conservatorship in California
A conservatorship begins when a family member, close friend or even public official files a petition in court showing why someone would need a conservator. The court appoints a conservator based on the nominated party in the petition, giving them the legal capacity to...
What is a power of attorney?
While it is a perfectly viable option to start your estate planning journey with a simple will, there are a number of important documents you should eventually get in order. One of these documents that can help you prepare for the worst is a power of attorney. The...
What should you include in your will?
If you have yet to put together your estate plan, one of the first legal documents you may create is your will. This document includes information about how you want to distribute your property and assets following your death. According to the CDC Foundation, a will...
What are an executor’s skills?
When you choose an executor for your estate, what should you look for? You might feel like the most important factor is that you can work together and that your executor should understand you. But is that the case? In reality, you may actually want to look at other...
Who should you choose as your estate’s executor?
When you create your estate plan, one task you must complete involves naming an executor. This person is responsible for following the directions and the wishes outlined in your will. According to Forbes, your executor will distribute your assets to named...