Trusts & Estate Law

Not every will is contested. However, those that are can be tied up in court for years. Such an act can prevent beneficiaries from receiving their intended inheritance. It could also ensure that...

Inheritance taxes, also sometimes called death taxes, are state taxes on money and property received by inheritance. The person who accepts an inheritance, such as the son or daughter of a...

As you near the point where you may pass on from this life, you need to decide how to deal with the property that you have accumulated during your lifetime. The choices you make can have...

California does not have a state inheritance tax, but potential beneficiaries should be aware of a number of tax-related issues. Some assets received by intestacy or bequest may be subject to...

Joint tenancy refers to a type of joint ownership of real property between two or more individuals. In a marriage, for example, joint tenancy gives each spouse an equal interest, or share, in the...

At its most basic, an inheritance tax (a.k.a. estate tax) is any tax that is levied upon a person's death. There are both a federal inheritance tax and, often, a state equivalent. Inheritance...

Probate is the term for the legal process that occurs when one person dies and all of his property is distributed to family, friends and other legal heirs. When that happens, there are three...

When a loved one dies, it can be a traumatic experience. Of course, personal feelings aside, in many cases, legalities involve themselves in the loss. Among those are inheritance and the taxes...

Oregon, like many other states, charges an inheritance tax. This tax is imposed on heirs and beneficiaries of property transfers from a deceased person's estate. As is often the case with state...

Technically speaking, an inheritance tax is different from an estate tax. The latter is a tax on a decedent's gross estate, while the former is levied against the share an individual receives of...

Even though everyone avoids the topic of death, sooner or later we will be faced with the fact that we do have to prepare for it. One of the ways to prepare for it is to think about how you want...

Most people have imagined what they would do with a sudden windfall. These musings usually involve paying off debts and make luxurious purchases. Is there a downside to inheriting besides the...

Inheritance taxes are state taxes levied on property that someone leaves to you in his will. When you inherit property, you are responsible for the inheritance taxes. The federal government does...

Though the federal estate tax is based on a decedent's assets, it is the beneficiaries who really pay the price. But the estate tax is not limited to assets in the probate estate of a deceased...

Inheritance taxes, or death taxes, are federal taxes imposed when someone dies. Get the scoop on federal inheritance taxes from an estate planning and probate lawyer in this free video on estate law.

Plan properly and your children will not have to argue or debate about how to split their inheritance. Follow Sam Walton, founder of WalMart, and divide your empire among your family at the...

If there is no living trust by which to settle an estate, then the estate goes into probate and is settled by process of law which varies between different states and counties. If you are trying...

The death of a loved one is never an easy thing to deal with, but sometimes a sizeable inheritance can be a small comfort that comes from the ordeal. If you've recently inherited large amounts of...