Beneficiaries – The question of who gets what seems fairly straightforward, and in most cases, it is. However, there are some things to consider before you make the final decisions.
California Intestacy Laws – In California, if a decedent dies without a will, he is subject to the California intestacy and succession laws.
Changing Your Last Will and Testament – A codicil is an addition to your will.
Contesting a Will – Challenging a will is difficult, expensive, and time consuming.
Dividing the Assets – If the last will and testament of a deceased person does not divide up the assets, then this task is left up to the beneficiaries.
Do You Need a Last Will and Testament? Yes – No matter what our age, the end could be right around the corner and if we don’t prepare our survivors for our own demise, no one else will.
Don’t Let the Wrong Estate Executor Rip Your Family Apart – No matter how well written your will, the executor is put into a position of power that allows them to divide your assets in a manner that may be totally different than how the other beneficiaries would interpret the will
Estate Battles: Children vs. New Wife – If you’ve been married more than once, you should be aware of the complications that may arise with your estate.
Estate Planning – Here are some simple steps you can take to make things easier for your loved ones and limit — or avoid — legal and court costs.
Estate Planning for an Internet Business – If you own an internet business, estate planning may encompass much more than just deciding who’s going to get your assets.
Executor / Executrix – The best place to begin in preparing your last will and testament is by deciding who will handle your affairs on your behalf once you are gone.
Five Reasons Behind Will-based or Trust-based Estate Plans – Several reasons exist behind the need to set up either a will-based or a trust-based estate plan.
How to Minimize Estate Taxes – While the owners of some estates don’t need to worry about their inheritors paying any federal taxes due to the size of the estate, most likely, they will need to be concerned about the payment of state estate taxes.
Intestate – When a person passes away without a last will and testament, they are said to die intestate.
Joint Will – Although the concept of a joint will is not one that is commonly known, suggested, or created, a joint last will and testament is indeed a valid type of document.
Keep Your Last Will and Testament Updated – While having a will is certainly better than not having one, a will that is seriously out of date can create its own set of problems.
Last Will and Testament Formalities: Is It Valid? – If the last will and testament is not valid, it will not be legally binding on the heirs.
Life Insurance – If you are thinking about taking out a life insurance policy, or if you already have one and are wondering if it is the right policy for you, you may want to take a moment and evaluate the different types of life insurance policies that are available, how they work, and how they compare.
Making Your Last Will and Testament – Here are some of the things you ought to keep in mind before you launch into the task make your last will and testament.
Pour Over Will – Quite a few different types of wills are available to help people set up who gets what when they die.
Power of Attorney – A Power of Attorney is your authorization, given to another person, to act on your behalf.
Property Guardian – A property guardian, also referred to as a property manager, is someone who oversees the inheritance of minor children.
Qualified Personal Residence Trust – A Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT) is one that is designed to hold and possess a residence in order to remove the value of said residence from the list of taxable assets within an estate.
Revocable Living Trust – The revocable living trust is a document that is used when an estate is trust-based, along with several other documents including a will.
When is Probate Required? – Probate is expensive and can be a long process, and having a last will and testament is not necessarily sufficient to avoid it.
Who Is Entitled to a Copy of the Will? – Typically, the estate attorney will determine who is to receive a copy of the will.