Losing a loved one is difficult enough — managing their estate affairs while you grieve is even harder. When the responsibility to handle the deceased’s property falls on your shoulders, you may wonder what happens next. As a first step,…

It is common for heirs or beneficiaries to worry when the personal representative takes too long to distribute their inheritance. This is usually the case when families are not familiar with the intricacies of the probate process. And they keep…

Do you have a will? If the answer to this question is anything other than a firm “YES!”, then you need to call or email my office. Today. I don’t want you to call so that we can sell you…

Do you have a loved one who passed away many years ago and owned a property that is still in their name? Are you looking to handle it once and for all?  This situation is not uncommon.  We call it…

After a loved one passes away, it is common for close family members to want to see a copy of the will. Unfortunately, sometimes the executor may refuse to provide it. That can feel very frustrating. You may want to…

Over the last few months we’ve written a lot about conditions that slow the probate process down. Considerably. We’ve picked on the Prince estate, but only because it’s continuously in the news and serves as a perfect example for a…

The first question that needs to be answered is are you actually a beneficiary? This is typically something you would be aware of if you are the current beneficiary. If you are a contingent beneficiary (or think you are a…

Do you have an advance directive for health care (this used to be called a living will)? Like this other post (which was asking if you have a will – you do, don’t you?), if the answer to that question is…

Testate is a term that is often used in probate situations, but what does it mean and why is it important? We will answer that question and more in this post. My name is Erik Broel & I am the…

 Intestate is a term that is often used in probate situations, but what does it mean and why is it important?  We will answer that question and more in this post. My name is Erik Broel & I am…

What is tenants in common?  What does it mean and how can it affect settling an estate? We will answer those important questions and more in this post. My name is Erik Broel & I am the founder & CEO…

What is a Guardian ad Litem in probate?  Should you be concerned if the Probate Court requires one in your case?  In this post, we will go over this often misunderstood topic. My name is Erik Broel & I am…