When a person dies without proper planning, their estate enters a public legal process that can last months—sometimes ...

Probate is the court procedure of proving a will after someone (the decedent) who has completed his or her last will and testament dies. If you have a will and pass away, you have passed away testate ...

Probating an estate is an expensive, time-consuming and sometimes adversarial affair. It is possible, and sometimes advisable, to avoid probate. With the help of an estate planner and, perhaps, an ...

Probate can be a real headache, and it’s something most folks want to dodge if they can. It’s not just about the red tape; it ...

Sometimes, not always, when a person dies — even if they left a will — a legal process called probate ensues. Probate is ...

Dealing with the death of a loved one is upsetting and stressful enough, but there are specific and sometimes complex rules to follow if you have been put in charge of managing their estate. The ins ...

Wondering whether retirement accounts go through probate? In most cases, they don’t — thanks to beneficiary designations.. Retirement accounts like IRAs, 401(k)s and annuities typically bypass probate ...

Probate is known for being an unnecessarily complicated and lengthy procedure. Even when the estate being probated is fairly simple and straightforward, proceedings can go on for some time, depending ...