Probate

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 […]

lawyer sitting at desk writing on a legal pad

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 […]

Out-of-State Properties Can Be a Probate Headache

Probating a will can turn into a drawn-out process, and unfortunately, you can’t always avoid multiple probate processes. When a person dies and leaves property in one state to someone in a different state, it is typically necessary to obtain probate for each jurisdiction. On the other hand, if you plan ahead and take care […]

Trusts and More and How To Avoid Probate

Probate is the term for the legal process in which a will is reviewed to determine whether it’s valid and authentic. Probate also refers to the general administering of a deceased person’s will (testate) or the estate of a deceased person without a will (intestate). After an asset holder dies, the court appoints either an […]

How to Deal With Estate Litigation

Death is just the beginning. When a loved one passes, navigating through the probate process can dredge up unresolved emotions and family conflicts, all intensified by grief. As survivors find themselves rehashing the past, the settlement of probate can ignite long-buried resentments. If the parties have been looking for a fight for years, probate unleashes […]