Tag: probate

September 7, 2025 Off

What Happens After? Planning for Your Belongings After You’re Gone

The article discusses the importance of having a will to ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes after death, avoiding the complexities and potential costs of dying “intestate” (without a will). It explores the rise of online will-making services as an affordable alternative to traditional attorneys, highlighting their ease of use. However, it cautions readers to ensure the online will is legally binding by following state regulations (like notarization and witnesses), choosing a secure provider to protect personal data, and understanding the limitations

August 24, 2025 Off

What Happens to Your Debt When You Die?

By The Admiral Staff

When you die, your debts typically don’t disappear. Generally, debts must be paid off by your estate using your assets like cash, homes, or cars, before any inheritance is distributed. Creditors will notify your estate executor and may pursue legal claims in probate court, sometimes agreeing to settlements for less than the full amount owed.

Here’s a breakdown for different debt types:

* **Co-signed Loans/Credit Cards:** The co-signer is responsible for paying.

September 5, 2024 Off

Will Mystery: What to Do When Your Family Withholds the Details

By The Admiral Staff

A reader is concerned their sister, the executor of their mother’s will, won’t provide a copy. According to legal expert Kimberly A. Hegwood, wills aren’t public record until probate is complete. The reader can file a “Motion to Present the Will” to request it from the executor, who is legally obligated to act in the best interest of the beneficiaries. If no will exists, the reader can initiate probate without one, overseen by a court-assigned administrator.

February 3, 2024 Off

Betrayed by Family: What to Do When a Will Leaves You Out

By The Admiral Staff

The author advises someone who was excluded from their mother’s will, despite it originally dividing assets equally among three children, to first obtain a copy of the will from the probate court to verify beneficiary status. They caution that the will doesn’t tell the whole story, and assets like retirement accounts bypass probate. The author suggests requesting documentation from the sister claiming the estate was depleted and recommends consulting with a probate attorney immediately, as legal challenges have time limits and can be costly. Potential issues include mismanagement of

December 4, 2023 Off

Protect Your Tomorrow: A Simple Estate Plan Today

By The Admiral Staff

The article discusses estate planning, even for those with limited financial resources, emphasizing that an estate includes all assets like bank accounts, cars, and homes. It highlights the complexities of probate, the court-supervised asset distribution process, and encourages avoiding it by designating beneficiaries on retirement and bank accounts. Five simple steps are suggested: making bank accounts payable upon death, reviewing beneficiary designations, creating advance directives for healthcare decisions, utilizing online will services for simple estates, and discussing final arrangements with family to prevent unnecessary expenses

Popular posts