When someone dies, one of the most common questions that may come up is how much does an estate have to be worth to go to probate, which is a legal process that validates and settles a deceased person’s assets. Probate proceedings involve inventorying the deceased's properties, paying their deb...
Have you just lost a loved one and need to file for probate? This can be a confusing and overwhelming process, especially when you don't know who pays probate attorney fees. You have to follow many steps, and it's easy to make mistakes that cost you time and money. Hiring an experienced probate a...
When a loved one dies, dealing with the pain is only part of the events that follow. You may need to sort the papers, notify the deceased family members about the late person passing away, attend the funeral of the deceased, pay various expenses related to the decedent's medical care, and so on. One...
If you've been left a portion of a property through someone's will, it can be a difficult time for all involved. Most people may want to sell the house quickly for emotional reasons, to prevent high maintenance costs, or even to pay off creditors to the extent possible if the estate doesn't have eno...
A last will and testament is a legal document that controls how most of your assets and liabilities are distributed after your death. A valid will allows you to leave assets to people who would be excluded by the laws that control the distribution of property after your death. It empowers you to...
As probate attorneys, some of the most frequent questions we receive are "What is a conservatorship?", "What is the difference between guardianship and conservatorship?" There are two main situations when someone needs conservatorship. The first circumstance is when a minor child is going to rec...
The "next of kin" term usually refers to the closest living blood relative, such as someone's spouse, who will assume responsibility for decisions on behalf of the individual in case they become unable to make them themselves. This issue could arise both after a person dies and prior to their de...
Dealing with the death of a loved one is devastating enough without debt collectors beating down on your door to demand payment. If you've just assumed your role as an appointed executor or administrator, questions like these may have crossed your mind: "How long do creditors have to collect a debt ...
When they pass away, people often want to leave their assets and properties to persons they care about. But sometimes, the deceased doesn't make a will or dies with debts, and in such cases, their property must go through a probate process before being distributed to the legal beneficiaries. When th...
The death of a parent can be emotionally devastating. If the parent passes away without a testament to establish how to distribute his possessions clearly, the confusion and trauma can be even more profound. One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is, "What is a child entitled to when ...
Often, the heirs of a deceased person wonder how long does the executor have to pay the beneficiaries. However, you should know that several factors - such as the complexity of the estate, the deceased's debts, estate taxes, and any legal issues - influence the timing of the distribution of assets. ...
What are the surviving spouse rights in Georgia? Does the surviving spouse automatically inherit the entire decedent's estate? Do they have to initiate inheritance proceedings? How much and what do the deceased's children inherit? Can they be removed from the estate? These are just a few of the...
