Irrevocable trusts are known for having strict rules. If you decide to include one in your estate plan, you cannot touch the assets in it or make changes to it unless you have an agreement from the person named in the trust. Even then, it is not always easy to do much...
If you are the administrator of a friend or relative's estate, you will need to familiarize yourself with the probate process. If the decedent had a trust in place at the time of their death, you may be able to sidestep the probate process. Otherwise, you will have to...
When a loved one passes away, family members often don't worry about their credit report. However, if you're the executor of an estate, among your many responsibilities is notifying the three major credit bureaus of that person's death. When notified of a death, the...
You may have been flattered when you were asked by a loved one or friend to be the executor for their estate. However, now that they've passed away and it's time to get to work, the responsibility seems overwhelming. If you've never had this role before and you're not...
You've written your will. That's a great first step. But that's all it is. A first step. To make sure your assets don't wind up in the hands of a California probate court, you need to take your estate planning a step further. A simple will might not address more...
When dividing an estate, it is often easiest for children to simply auction off minor assets and possessions that they do not need and that no one really wants. They can then split the money up evenly and ensure that everyone actually gets the same value out of those...
