The bad news: probated estates are subject to a variety of costs from attorneys, executors, appraisers, accountants, courts, and state law. Depending on the probate's complexity, fees can run into tens of thousands of dollars. The good news: probate costs can be reduced by avoiding probate. It’s really that simple. Here are...
After a loved one dies, her estate must be settled. How long does probate typically take? While most people want the settlement process to be done ASAP, probate can take between 18 and 24 months. Yes, you heard that right. The time delays create unnecessary stress. 5 Reasons Probate Takes So...
Most people probably assume that the probating of an estate is a private process. But actually, once a will gets filed at the courthouse, it becomes a matter of public record. That means your nosey neighbor Nellie can simply go down to the courthouse or hop online and read it in...
Today many people are using a revocable living trust instead of a will or joint ownership as the foundation of their estate plan. When properly prepared, a living trust will avoid the public, costly, and time-consuming court processes of conservatorship or guardianship (due to incapacity) or probate (after death). Still,...
You work hard for your money and want to ensure that, after you pass away, it gets distributed in a way that maximizes its benefit for your loved ones and charitable causes. One of the keys to doing this correctly is to understanding the differences between wills and trusts, and...
In case you missed any of them, here is a rundown of five 2015 hot estate planning topics we covered this year: 1. 4 Steps to Stop Mail Addressed to a Deceased Person: One of the first things you should do as a newly appointed executor of a deceased person’s probate...
A 2012 study by Ohio State researcher Jay Zagorsky found that about one-third of Americans who receive an inheritance have negative savings within two years of getting their money, and of those who receive $100,000 or more, nearly one in five spend, donate, or simply lose it all. If you...
