Litigation related to probate can include guardianship and conservatorship disputes, will contests, property disputes, and disputes over gifts. The most successful approach to mitigating or avoiding probate litigation risk is carefully planning for the future. Comprehensive estate plans that are…
During probate, a will is legally recognized, a person (executor) is named or validated to administer the estate, and assets are distributed to beneficiaries. It also requires paying the decedent’s outstanding debts and federal and state taxes. Each state has…
Even in the case of inheritance, stepchildren are often treated as if they were full biological children in American families. This is particularly true where stepchildren are part of a blended family from an early age. Biological siblings may have…
A probate court will oversee the distribution of the decedent’s property if he or she died intestate, or without a will. Also known as intestate succession, it has similarities to the probate process when a will is present. Still, the…