If your loved one left behind a will, it must be executed as per their instructions. However, there are legal procedures that must be followed for that to happen. A will is a legal document, and the court has to be involved in its execution. This happens in a process...
One of the most controversial decisions during estate administration involves the difficult process of selecting an executor or personal representative for the estate. Many testators perseverate over this decision for weeks, struggling to identify the one person who...
Debt is a common part of modern life, and most people will still have outside financial obligations left unpaid when they die. Those responsibilities will pass to their estates. The executors or personal representatives managing probate proceedings in Pennsylvania...
As you look over your estate plan, one tool that you don’t want to forget about is a trust. Trusts come in a number of forms, but they have a few important purposes. They can help you protect your legacy, control your wealth, pass on your assets and protect your...
Your beloved parent is starting to get older now, and it’s your turn to make sure that they are looked after. Part of this involves ensuring that their estate planning needs are met. One thing they may want to consider is drafting a will. A watertight will can ensure...
You may have been appointed the executor of a family member's estate at some point in their life. If they recently passed away, then you have several matters you need to do as their executor. It is critical to act swiftly when upholding your duty as an executor. As...
When you think about estate planning, you may start with the assumption that having a will is enough to pass your property on after you pass away. The reality is that a will isn’t always enough to protect your assets or prevent certain assets from going into probate....
As you do your estate planning, there are many different ways that you can use trusts to ensure that your wishes are carried out. Some people use an incentive trust to attempt to get their heirs to live in a certain way, while others use an educational trust to pay...
An estate executor is someone named in a will who ensures that your final wishes are carried out and your assets go to the heirs you designate. A successor trustee oversees a revocable trust you created if you become unable to do so or if you die. That successor...
As a new business owner, your sole focus may be getting your business off the ground. However, you also need to constantly have an eye toward the future, and that means getting an estate plan together. Your new business could flourish, and it may even become your...