Probate

a gavel with papers that say probate court, intestate

What It Means To Die Intestate

Did a close relative die and not leave a will? You will face some complexities, but you can get through them if you know the rules. How will the estate be distributed in the absence of a will? To start with, many assets are not passed by will, such as: Life insurance proceeds. Real estate, […]

Considerations When Choosing Beneficiaries

Beneficiaries are a crucial part of your estate plan. They are the people or organizations that will ultimately benefit from your estate when you pass away. Your beneficiaries can receive money or anything else you pass down to them, such as Social Security disability, savings and checking accounts, life insurance policies, retirement plans, and […]

Contesting a Will

When you hear about wills being contested, you may initially think of famous families involved in legal battles over the validity of a will. However, there are various reasons why a will may be challenged, and not all of them involve family disputes. Contesting a will may be necessary if you suspect that it […]

a paper that says "probate" and a gavel sat next to it

How to Select an Executor

Are you thinking about drafting your will and working on your estate plan? Is this causing you to weigh your choices when it comes to naming an executor? When it comes to identifying the person whom you want as the executor of your estate, you will want to grant this duty to an individual […]

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Heirs and Contingent Beneficiaries

When the Titanic went down in 1912, several women chose to remain on board with their husbands. One was Ida Straus, whose family co-owned Macy’s Department Store. Although Titanic-scale disasters are extraordinarily rare, you should nevertheless include a contingency beneficiary in your will or trust in case life or death serves up something unexpected. […]

a colorful toy house with a tag that says "probate" on it

Understanding Probate in Connecticut

When people find that they are facing Probate court, they can become anxious. Probate is the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased person. The probate process is overseen by the probate court and shall be handled by an executor or administrator appointed by the court. This process can seem complex and intimidating. […]

Do You Need a Trust?

According to the 2023 Wills and Estate Planning Survey by Caring.com, only 34 percent of Americans have an estate plan. The primary reasons respondents gave for not participating in estate planning are: Procrastination Believing they need more assets Not knowing how to make an estate plan An estate plan is a comprehensive set of legal documents […]

a gavel sitting next to a folder labelled "probate law"

Help for When You are Facing Probate

Probate can sometimes be a long and confusing process. When a person passes away, their estate may go through this process called probate. An experienced probate attorney can help guide you through this confusing process, which can extend for a long time. What happens when there is a will? There are plenty of reasons to […]

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Choosing the Right Probate Lawyer

You have been named executor in a will. Now what? First, you are under no obligation to retain the original attorney who prepared the will. In fact, assuming you are the executor, that initial lawyer must now turn over the will to you. As you start your search, you will find a vast pool of […]

a scale with one side reading "taxes" and the other side reading "living trust & estate planning"

What To Know About Trusts and Taxes

For all intents and purposes, a trust is considered its own entity. Trusts are legal documents, but they are also taxed separately from those to whom the assets within a trust will be distributed. People who are in the process of planning their estates rely on trusts because trusts serve as protection over the assets […]