For many families, reviewing someone's will or estate plan is a technical process. Everyone already knows what to expect, so there are no surprises in the early stages of estate administration. For a small number of families, the terms in the estate plan will come as...
Probate
2 tactics to keep your home from going through probate court
When you die, the biggest assets that you leave behind can help provide for your family members. Other than retirement savings or a life insurance policy, your primary residence is probably your most expensive asset. Whether you expect your family members to live in...
Dealing with disputes with a stepparent after a parent’s death
Dealing with the death of a parent can be extremely traumatic. Whether your parent died unexpectedly or due to a long illness, grieving can take a long time, and you may be unable to work or do simple activities for some time. It is important to give yourself the time...
The effects of grief can make probate harder
If you have recently lost a loved one, you will know that in addition to coping with the loss of one of the most important people in your life, you will also experience the loss of aspects of yourself and your own identity. This experience can be very disorientating,...
Timely estate planning may prevent extra grief during probate
Estate planning can be a sensitive and painful subject, so it is understandable if you have been putting it off. Many people do not want to dwell on their own mortality, or that of a loved one. Some people may suffer an unexpected loss, robbing them of the...
How does the court transfer a house in probate?
Real estate is always a special consideration in legal matters. When it comes to real estate that you leave behind after your death, there are several ways the court may handle it. What happens will depend on ownership of the property and your estate plan. According...
Four ways you can avoid probate
Planning for the future isn’t always easy, especially if it concerns plans for after your death. You’re likely not ready to talk about it, but you must find the time to do so anyway. When you don’t prepare for the future, it can cause problems for your family after...
Estate of wealthy retired aerospace executive disputed
Any beneficiary has the legal right to contest a will or trust executed in Minnesota or anywhere else in the U.S. When heirs believe the deceased intended to leave them a particular asset or property, they may initiate a dispute through the probate court. To succeed,...
The timely handling of the probate process
Your loved one has passed on, and you’re ready to put their estate quickly to rest. Unfortunately, going by the book means their affairs could take months to resolve. While each probate case is different, the average time to settle an estate is nearly 16 months....

7 Reasons to Begin Probate Promptly After the Death of a Loved One
When a Loved One has died, family members often are absorbed by grief and don't want to think about dealing with the real estate, bank accounts and other assets of the deceased Loved One. A century ago that might be a perfectly good course. Today, that could be a bad...