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Bills and Services to Cancel—and Keep—When a Loved One Dies

A loved one’s passing is challenging on many different levels. In addition to the emotional difficulty of processing someone’s death, there are also the many tasks that must be dealt with, such as going through their various accounts and taking t… Read More
Categories: Probate
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Could a Testamentary Trust Be What Your Loved Ones Need?

One of the main reasons that a person creates a revocable living trust (a trust established during a person’s lifetime that they can amend or revoke) instead of relying on a will to transfer their money and property to their beneficiaries is to avo… Read More
Probate Word on Scrabble tiles, with a gavel, watch, money in picture

Why You Want to Avoid Intestacy

About two out of three Americans will die without a will. This is known as dying intestate. While the reasons for not having a will vary, the end result is the same for everyone: they do not get to choose who receives their property when they die. In… Read More
Estate Planning text on white paper on black folder

Aaron Carter: A Life Gone Too Soon

Musician Aaron Carter, a former child pop star and younger brother of Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter, died last November at the age of thirty-four. Aaron’s untimely passing is one of the more tragic celebrity deaths of 2022. It is also one of t… Read More
Categories: Guardianship, Probate
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Ways You Can Revoke a Will

A will (which should be accompanied by other important documents such as healthcare and financial powers of attorney, as well as an advance healthcare directive) is a foundational estate planning document. However, according to Gallup, only 46 percen… Read More
Categories: Probate, Wills
pros cons list in a notebook and man hand with red marker writing considering pros and cons of probate

The Pros and Cons of Probate

In estate planning circles, the word probate often carries a negative connotation. Indeed, for many people—especially those with valuable accounts and property—financial planners and others recommend trying to keep accounts and property out of pr… Read More
Categories: Estate Planning, Probate
woman at laptop frustrated

Three Tips for Overwhelmed Executors

While it is an honor to be named as a trusted decision maker, also known as an executor or personal representative, it can often be a sobering and daunting responsibility. Being an executor requires a high level of organization, foresight, and attent… Read More
Will and Living Trust Typed on Paper with Living Trust circled in red pencil

Why a Trust Can Be the Best Option to Avoid Probate

Ideally, when someone passes away, the paperwork and material concerns associated with the deceased’s passing are so seamlessly handled (thanks to excellent preparation) that they fade into the background, allowing the family and other loved ones t… Read More
Categories: Probate, Trusts
orange safety cones in the road to avoid danger

Three Reasons to Avoid Probate

When you pass away, your family may need to sign certain documents as part of a probate process in order to claim their inheritance. This can happen if you own property (like a house, car, bank account, investment account, or other asset) in your nam… Read More
Categories: Probate
Close up of assorted pills and prescriptions discussing what to do with controlled substances at death

Three Steps to Take When the Deceased Has Controlled Substances

There are so many things to think about when a loved one passes away. What to do with the prescription drugs (or other controlled substances) that are in your loved one’s medicine cabinet is not usually at the top of that list. Yet, to avoid runnin… Read More
Categories: Probate