Trusts & Estate Law

The legal term for excluding someone from your will is called negative intent, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's bad or wrong to exclude someone. You may no longer have a relationship with a...

There are two courses to take to inherit a retirement account from an individual who died. First, in many cases you can obtain outstanding benefits in a retirement account by filing a claim form...

One of the initial tasks of an administrator of an estate or the executor of a will in probate is to establish a bank account. Specifically, a checking account to pay estate bills is set up by the...

Finding out if an estate is established for a deceased person is a task that you can undertake on your own. You do not need professional assistance to locate a pending estate. The process of...

Most people don't need a lawyer to make a will. If all you have is a home, simple investments, a small business or personal items, you can bequeath these using a standard will form and self-help...

How to Pick Probate Attorneys or Probate Lawyers. Probate Court is where matters of an estate go, such as contesting a will or administration of estates. This is often a highly sensitive issue...

A lawyer is a legal professional who practices law in a particular state. Hiring a lawyer is often the first step in the resolution of a legal issue. It is important to choose a lawyer who has...

In order to claim the property of a deceased relative, you need to file a small estate affidavit. The property value must not exceed that determined by the state in which the property is located....

Obtaining a death certificate is important for verification of the passing of your loved one. You will need a death certificate in order to receive benefits, close your loved one's accounts and...

When a family member passes away an estate sale can be set up to sell their items. Estate sales can get complicated if not done the right way however. This article will outline how to set up an...

If you're buying property that you would like to renovate and rent out to future tenants, or you're a tenant and suspicious that your landlord may be violating condemnation laws, you can easily...

Preparing and executing a power of attorney is serious business. A power of attorney allows you to designate to another trusted individual the ability to make decisions for you in regard to...

Learn how to draft your last will, learn the following: 1. what critical items to think of 2. how to draft the document so that it is legally binding 3. how to properly store this important document

Everyday, people go about their daily lives in routine. We don't quite realize, though, that the uncertain can happen at any moment, any time on any day. Death is a natural part of life and this...

Maryland land records consist of property deeds and documentation of wills and estates. Maryland land records can also include mortgages and liens against a deed. Depending on the type of Maryland...

Most trusts allow you to add property to the trust by following a few simple steps. You can add any kind of property, including bank accounts, investment and retirement accounts, personal property...

No matter what age you are you should have a will. Many families have been torn apart by a relative not having a will. It doesn't matter the size of your estate, large or small a will makes it...

A trust is a separate legal entity that can buy, sell, hold and distribute property according to the terms set forth by the grantor. Some trust accounts use separate tax ID numbers while others...

Anybody can claim unclaimed property. Unclaimed property is typically monetary in nature and can be anything from a credit card refund, a tax refund, bank interest or a stock dividend, or any...

Legacy statements can be the lasting corporate imprint of a retiring CEO, or a personal statement from a parent to a child. What both ideally have in common is the passionate message of their...

A Notary Public is necessary for most of us at some point in our life to witness a signature on a document, such as the purchase of a home, contracts, wills or power of attorney documents. It's...

What would happen if you were to die today and your family had no idea what life insurance policies you had or how you wanted to be buried or whether you even wanted to be buried and not cremated?...

Death certificates are legal documents that are issued by government officials, such as a registrar of vital statistics. The certificates include the date, location, and the cause of death. Death...

Pennsylvania public records include criminal, divorce, civil, land deeds, and other entities. Pennsylvania public records do not include juvenile court records; in fact, all states do not. They...

Under probate laws, there are three primary ways in which you can inherit money. You can be named in the last will and testament of a person who died. You can inherit money through what is known...

To obtain a death certificate in Boston, Massachusetts, you must go through City Hall. You may either visit the Registry Division at City Hall, located in Governement Center, or send a written...

Although many people use a lawyer to draft their last will, you can also plan to create a will yourself. It is important to have a will in the case of your death and to provide instructions on how...

Too many lawyers will take your money to help them learn a new area of law, and wills, powers of attorney, health care directives, and estate administrations are good examples of this. Estate...

Some people prefer that their body be buried after they pass; others would rather be cremated. And a select few want to do something more with their remains after they die: donate their body to...

A Living Will or Advance Directive is a legal document used by terminally ill patients to give specific instructions for the kind and extent of life-extending health care the patient will receive...

A will is defined as a written declaration of a person's intended distribution of property after their death. Unfortunately, many American die without having a will (meaning they die...

A will is a document that describes the wishes of the deceased, and can be drawn up by an attorney or an individual. Once a will is filed with a court, it becomes public record. In some...

Frequently in creating an estate plan a person executes a living trust. A living trust is a legal document which is usually established to avoid taxation and the probate of a will. (Probate is...

There are various reasons why you may seek to obtain a death certificate. For instance, you may seek to establish another person's death to apply for a benefit or perhaps to perform genealogical...

Many states have a law that allows a Beneficiary Will or Life Estate Will to be recorded in the County that a Residence is in, thus avoiding have that property go into probate when the owner dies....

One of the most common estate planning strategies is to write a living trust. A living trust is a legal entity which owns property that is controlled by a trustee (usually the person who created...

It's not necessary to file a power of attorney for it to technically go into effect. Nevertheless, some institutions such as banks, insurance companies, Realtors or stock brokers will require a...

A last will and testament is a legal declaration describing the preferred distribution of a deceased person's assets. Anyone over the age of 18 can draw up a legal will. Though the written...

Writing a will is a task that many people put off, assuming they will have plenty of time later to do it. Unfortunately for some people, "later" comes much too soon, and that will remains...

A will is exactly what it sounds like--a stripped down version of a Last Will and Testament. A simple will is a form that allows the testator--person making out the will--to simply fill in the...

Probate is the part of the state court system that manages the administration of a deceased person's estate. There is no requirement that an estate go through probate, but without the authority of...

Making a will can ensure your personal assets and belongings will be in the right order in case something happens to your health. It's very important to make out a will especially if you have...

The easiest way to create a legal document for free is to use a form. A durable power of attorney is no exception. Many sample forms are available online (see Resources below), and it is a simple...

A legal trust that is not a grantor trust is a separate entity that can incur its own tax liabilities. It is therefore required to have its own Federal Employer Identification Number, also known...

When it comes to writing a will, it is best to consult a professional. A will that is not handled through a lawyer can easily be challenged and will likely not hold up in court if it is...

Your will is the single most important document you can write. It will protect your partner, children and home, yet 70% of UK adults have not written one yet. I will show you it can be quite...

A living trust is a legal entity which owns property. When a living trust is created, a trustee is designated by the trust. The trustee is usually the person who originally held the property as...

There comes a time when you come face to face with the need for a will. You might be getting on in years. Or maybe you have a high-risk job and want to be prepared before taking on a hazardous...

If you are sick with cancer or other condition that will ultimately end your life you may have turned your thoughts as to how your children, spouse or other family or friends will inherit your...

When someone dies, the credit reporting agencies Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion may not get the news for a long time, if ever. It is important to let the credit bureaus know of a loved one's...