Your first thought when you hear about someone challenging a will may be that the individual presenting the challenge can't accept the decisions of the deceased. Indeed, there are cases where someone feels as though he or she has been treated unfairly. Of course, that in itself does not render a will invalid by any stretch of the imagination. You have a right to leave inheritances as you see fit, and you have a right to disinherit people as you see fit. The above being stated, there are times … [Read more...] about Arrests Made in Will Forgery Case
Multimillionaire Died Without Will
When you go through life without a will or some other legal device that arranges for asset transfers, you are surrendering control of where your resources will land after you pass away. There are certain rules that the state must follow, but under some circumstances the state can actually absorb the assets left behind by a resident. The first order of business would be to find out if the deceased had relatives, and in most instances people will step forward. There are intestacy rules of … [Read more...] about Multimillionaire Died Without Will
Various Different Wills Used in Estate Planning
Aside from the last will, or last will and testament as it was traditionally called, there are some other types of wills used in the field of estate planning. One of these is the living will. This is an important advance health care directive, and unfortunately the majority of people in the United States are going through life without a living will. This type of will is not a financial instrument. Living wills are used to state your preferences regarding medical procedures. Your choices as … [Read more...] about Various Different Wills Used in Estate Planning
Steer Clear of These Common Estate Planning Errors
We would like to suggest that our readers steer clear of these three common estate planning errors. Error # 1: The assumption that you will never be exposed to the federal estate tax As 2013 approached, the future of the estate tax was hazy. Unless some type of legislation was passed in the 11th hour, the estate tax exclusion was going to be reduced to $1 million in 2013, and the rate was scheduled to rise to 55%. At the last minute, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was passed … [Read more...] about Steer Clear of These Common Estate Planning Errors
All Responsible Adults Need an Estate Plan
When you examine the statistics, you find that the majority of people in the United States have not executed all of the recommended estate planning documents. Many of us live busy lives and procrastination can often be the order of the day, but there is really no excuse for going through life without making any preparations for the inevitable. Even if your situation is not very complex, it is important to express your final wishes with regard to the distribution of your financial assets via the … [Read more...] about All Responsible Adults Need an Estate Plan
Determining the Validity of a Last Will
When you utilize a last will to direct the future transfers of your assets to your heirs, your estate is going to be probated. This is the legal process during which the probate court that is local to the deceased determines the validity of the will and supervises the administration of the estate. If some interested party wanted to challenge the validity of the will, he or she could present his or her arguments during probate. Of course, if this takes place the administration of the estate is … [Read more...] about Determining the Validity of a Last Will
Our Report Examines DIY Wills
There are many do-it-yourself projects that you may be able to take on successfully. Depending on your interests and your abilities, going the DIY route can actually be enjoyable as you spend time constructively. And of course, doing things for yourself can sometimes save you money. Of course, there are some things that are better left up to the experts. Estate planning would fall into this category. There are no shortage of websites on the Internet offering do-it-yourself legal documents. … [Read more...] about Our Report Examines DIY Wills
Take Action to Obtain Your California Estate Planning Report
As you mature, you may start to take the matter of estate planning more seriously than you did as a younger person. Many people start to look for information as they come to the realization that planning ahead for the well-being of their families is indeed important. However, you should ideally have an estate plan in place from the time you first become a responsible and self-supporting adult. Estate planning is truly essential for people of all ages. You can become more motivated if you have … [Read more...] about Take Action to Obtain Your California Estate Planning Report
Probate Court Sets Hemsley Estate Trial Date
We always keep an eye on celebrity estate planning cases because you can learn a lot from the successes and failures of others. Along these lines, we recently passed along some news about the estate of the deceased comedic actor Sherman Hemsley. A Philadelphia resident stepped forward to stand in the way of Hemsley's longtime partner Flora Enchinton receiving an inheritance and having the ability to put Hemsley's body to rest. This individual claims to be Hemsley's brother. Enchinton lived … [Read more...] about Probate Court Sets Hemsley Estate Trial Date
A Surprising Fact About Last Wills
You might think that the disposition of your resources would be handled in a private manner after you pass away. In fact, if you choose to use a Last Will as your primary vehicle of asset transfer, the general public would have access to all the details. This is because your estate must be probated when you use a Last Will. Probate exists partially because of the fact that there could be interested parties that have a rightful claim against the estate. Creditors, claimants, and/or individuals … [Read more...] about A Surprising Fact About Last Wills
