When a person dies without proper planning, their estate enters a public legal process that can last months—sometimes ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Bob Carlson researches all facets of retirement finances. About 70% of U.S. adults don’t have a will or trust, according to ...

Probate is the court procedure of proving a will after someone (the decedent) who has completed his or her last will and testament dies. If you have a will and pass away, you have passed away testate ...

Get started to see how well you understand the benefits of planning for the future and ensuring your final wishes are carried ...

Many families have a beloved out-of-state vacation home where many cherished memories have been made. Families often plan to pass these vacation homes down by putting them in a will. While this is an ...

A new Minnesota law makes it easier and cheaper for Minnesotans to plan for the transfer of real property upon their death. The transfer on death deed (or TODD) legislation that went into effect last ...

To continue reading this content, please enable JavaScript in your browser settings and refresh this page. Probate is the court-supervised process by which a deceased ...

A probate court can handle the distribution of an estate’s assets, but it’s not always an efficient process. What Is Probate? What Is Involved in Probate? How Long Will the Probate Process Take? Can ...

Q: I am retired and unmarried, and I have three children who live in other states. They don't get along very well. I'm trying to avoid probate when I die so that there will be nothing my children need ...

The probate process can be time-consuming, extending to several months or sometimes years. Additionally, it can be a costly due to court, attorney and executor fees. Plus, probate is a public process, ...

Avoiding probate can save your beneficiaries time, reduce costs and protect their privacy while your estate is being settled. You can keep your Connecticut estate out of the probate court system by ...