Estate Administration & Probate

Estate planning commentators often remark on the need for individuals and families to think about their estates -- regardless of size or composition -- in a timely manner that allows for purposeful planning and peace of mind.That makes sense, of course, in the same...

What involves "love, money and the compounded effect of a lifetime of emotional experiences?"We'll assume that readers uniformly and promptly answered estate administration, which, indeed, centrally embodies all those considerations.There is certainly no dearth of...

Mobility and modern family life might create unique real property ownership situations. Perhaps a couple owns out-of-state property. Perhaps a family has separated but not divorced, with spouses living in different states. Perhaps parents purchased a property for...

Is poor communication still an issue in estate planning? According to a recent article, the answer may, unfortunately, be yes.Specifically, a recent article claims that far too many Americans don’t have a will or other estate-planning document, around 27 percent. To...

It's hardly a surprise that planning considerations adjust somewhat for most people as they age. Persons who suddenly find themselves dwelling upon matters such as incapacitation and long-term care needs are anything but an anomaly. We all age, and purposeful -- that...

Are beneficiary designations and probate property incompatible? With the help of an estate-planning attorney, they don’t have to be.Granted, contractual beneficiary designations usually bypass the probate process. As such, provisions in a will cannot be used to assign...

Although no one may like to have their private financial affairs made public, the celebrity example of the late actor James Gandolfini illustrates certain negative consequences in the extreme. The actor did not utilize estate-planning tools like trusts and non-probate...

As homeowners plan for their future, it is important to make detailed estimates of cash flow and retirement needs. A picture of cash flow and expenses, in turn, can help clarify estate-planning goals. The planning often begins with an inventory of assets that will...

Probate is a process by which a decedent’s assets can be transferred to his or her beneficiaries, and any debts of the estate can be paid. For many individuals, however, the goal of estate planning is to avoid probate. There are several reasons for this attitude....

Is estate planning affected by whether a jurisdiction is an equitable distribution or a community property state? The answer is yes, and since California is a community property estate, individuals should heed several considerations.In a community property state, the...