» Probate

Joint account (JTWROS) text in heart shape presented for active business education concept on paper slip background.

Why Joint Ownership (JTWROS) Should Not Necessarily Be the Go-To Plan for Newlyweds

If you recently married or have been married for a while and have acquired additional money or property (or plan to), you have options regarding how your assets can be owned. Although joint ownership seems easy and convenient, particularly when that… Read More
A man peering into a full mailbox trying to stop mail of a deceased person

Four Steps for Stopping Mail After Someone Dies

Once you have been appointed the executor or personal representative of a deceased loved one’s probate estate, or when you step in as the successor trustee of the loved one’s trust, one of the things you should do early in the process is to notif… Read More
Categories: Probate
Hand Writing Priorities Word Cloud for Estate Planning Priorities

Will My Revocable Living Trust Avoid Probate? It Depends.

If you have established a revocable living trust (which we will refer to simply as a trust), congratulations! You are on the right track in creating a comprehensive estate plan. However, you are only halfway there. Many people believe that because th… Read More
Estate Planning Word Cloud

Wills, Trusts, and Dying Intestate: How They Differ

Most people understand that having an estate plan benefits them and their loved ones. However, many individuals do not initiate the estate planning process because they do not fully understand the nuances of foundational estate planning tools such as… Read More
Deed To A House to use for joint owners as JTWROS

Caution: Using a DIY Deed to Create Joint Owners and Avoid Probate Can Lead to Unintended Consequences

One common way to avoid the probate requirement for real estate after the owner dies is to add children or other individuals to the property title as joint owners with rights of survivorship. When joint owners have survivorship rights and one joint o… Read More
legal divorce paper documents with pen closeup related to divorce and estate planning

Shannen Doherty Understood That With Divorce, Timing Is Everything in Estate Planning

According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey, there were more than 670,000 divorces[1] and more than 2 million marriages in 2022. Divorce is a common life event that many Americans face during their lifetime. But the effect of div… Read More
List of fiduciary duties on paper on desk

Choosing a Fiduciary: How to Pick a Trustee, Executor, and Agent under a Power of Attorney

While the term fiduciary is a legal term with a rich history, it generally means someone who is legally obligated to act in another person’s best interest. Trustees, executors, and agents are examples of fiduciaries. When you are choosing a fiducia… Read More
Notebook with Inheritance written on the front, image of car, home and family in wood cut out

Won’t My Spouse and Kids Inherit Everything When I Die?

You may think that if you die while you are married, everything you own will automatically go to your spouse and children. But you are actually thinking of state rules that apply if someone dies without leaving a will. In legal jargon, this is referr… Read More
woman looking at chalkboard with different words written on it and NOW written boldly

To the Millennials: The Time to Plan Is Now

As a millennial, you are contributing to the workforce in a major way and are making positive changes in the world around you. We understand that your concerns may differ from someone of a different generation, and we are here to help you craft an es… Read More
Woman and child at graveyard

Wrongful Death and Probate

Wrongful death lawsuits and probate proceedings are both civil legal matters that occur after somebody has died. When the death of a loved one is caused by another individual or entity, it can lead to the filing of a wrongful death lawsuit and, ultim… Read More