Family members often inherit assets when someone passes away. For instance, adult children may be named as beneficiaries for bank accounts, real estate and more. The will and estate plan help to show how these assets should be handled and divided among the family. ...
Resilience And Strength
Estate Planning
3 common sources of family conflict during estate administration
When a loved one passes away, the grieving process can be complicated by another emotionally charged ordeal: estate administration. This period is meant to help ensure the deceased’s wishes are honored. However, it often becomes a breeding ground for family tension. ...
When should you update your estate plan?
Updating your estate plan is a very important part of the process. You need to conduct reviews and determine when updates are necessary. There’s always a chance that you could review the plan and find that it still works—but you at least need to consider it...
3 common reasons families decide to contest a will
Most of the time, the will left by a deceased individual determines what happens to their property. Their family members may feel deeply grateful that they invested the time and effort into creating an estate plan. However, a will can sometimes become a source of...
When is it necessary to remove the representative of an estate?
A personal representative or executor assumes control over another person's estate. Their obligations include attending probate court hearings, securing estate resources, communicating with creditors and distributing property. Those establishing estate plans often...
Reasonable expectations for the probate process
When a loved one passes away, those left behind will have the responsibility of settling his or her estate and distributing assets according to the terms of his or her will. This is an immense responsibility, and it can be emotionally challenging to navigate this...
Do you have grounds to contest a will?
It is difficult to deal with the death of a loved one, even if it was expected. You may be dealing with feelings of grief and uncertainty, and these feelings may be compounded when you find that the terms of your loved one’s estate plan are not what you expected. This...
When is it appropriate to contest a will?
After the death of a loved one, those left behind will have the task of handling his or her remaining property, paying final bills and eventually closing the estate. This is an immense responsibility, but it can be a bit easier when the decedent leaves clear...
A crisis-level problem that could take a human toll
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one-quarter of Americans live with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Based on their findings, the need for updated and tailored long-term care plans that reflect their specific issues is of...