Estate Beneficiaries

Think of a structured settlement much as you would an annuity. The only difference is that you have no contribution obligation. It is money paid to you as a settlement, usually from injury or other event in which you have either won the settlement through court action or have negotiated a settlement with the insurer of the party that... more »

Probate is a legal process where the matters of a deceased person's Last Will and Testament are dealt with and finalized. A probate judge is the person who administers the process or oversees any disputes about what assets go to whom. more »

People who own stock often forget to plan how to disburse it after their death. Stock disbursement is one of the biggest headaches probate. Money of the decedent pays the remaining bills, federal estate taxes and fulfills any requirements of the beneficiaries under the will. How to turn stocks into money is the problem. Read on to... more »

The word probate can be traced back to the Latin word meaning "to prove," which underscores one of the essential functions of probate early in the process. Probate is a special type of court process involved in managing the estate of a deceased person. The first step is the search for a will and, if one is submitted to the court, the... more »

When a loved one dies, a lot of financial questions arise. In every case, your best bet is to consult a trusts and estates attorney. Still, a few rules of thumb can help you figure out your own responsibility. The basic rule is this: The estate of the deceased is liable for the debt, and no one else is---not even relatives. This... more »