Estate Administration & Probate

For individuals who want to avoid the public disclosure, administrative hassle and cost of probate, it can be important to understand what types of property are considered non-probate assets.Perhaps the most common strategy for avoiding probate is a trust. Any assets...

Beneficiaries of a will or trust might be surprised by the bequests left to them. But what happens when that initial surprise wears off? A legal challenge to a will or trust might be one outcome. Can a grantor take proactive measures to minimize the risk of an...

Estate planning is important for everyone, but for families with a small business, there are extra considerations.As a practical matter, a small business owner’s wealth is probably tied up in the business. As a result, a business owner needs to have a plan for...

Although readers may understand that life insurance proceeds generally count toward an estate’s valuation, they may not realize the privacy implications. To protect an estate’s privacy, an attorney that focuses on estate planning might recommend naming a trust as the...