Posts Categorized: probate

How Much Will Probate Court Cost Me?

Apr 24, 2013 / By: Deborah Sexton, Estate Planning Attorney

Category: probate

If you’re just using a will for your estate plan or you don’t have a will, your estate goes through probate court. This is a long, drawn out process that is very costly to your estate...

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How Are My Debts Handled In Probate?

Apr 10, 2013 / By: Deborah Sexton, Estate Planning Attorney

Category: probate

When you pass away, your estate goes through probate. Probate will analyze your estate plan, assess assets and distribute them, but all of this occurs after your debts have been paid. Before entering probate court,...

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Does Your Estate Need a Probate Lawyer?

Apr 1, 2013 / By: Deborah Sexton, Estate Planning Attorney

Category: probate

No one wants to deal with probate, but if your estate must go through the process, you need an experienced probate attorney by your estate’s side. Since probate is a lengthy, confusing process, your executor...

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Clarifying the Probate Process

Nov 16, 2012 / By: Deborah Sexton, Estate Planning Attorney

Category: probate

Probate is the legal process that takes place after someone dies which includes a judicial decision about whether or not a will is valid and the settling of an estate. The estate is a combination of...

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Commonly Asked Questions about Insolvent Estates

Nov 12, 2012 / By: Deborah Sexton, Estate Planning Attorney

Category: Estate Planning, probate

Question 1: What does it mean when an estate is “insolvent?” When a person dies and leaves behind property, that property is known as the estate. The estate includes both assets and debts. When the...

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If You Want to Avoid Probate, Focus on 3 Types of Property

Nov 5, 2012 / By: Deborah Sexton, Estate Planning Attorney

Category: probate

The benefits of avoiding probate are substantial. Not only will your estate likely save significant money in court costs, estate management fees and attorneys fees, but your inheritors will be able to receive their inheritances...

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Why You Will Never Have to Attend a Reading of the Will

Oct 31, 2012 / By: Deborah Sexton, Estate Planning Attorney

Category: probate, Wills

There are any number of movies or television shows which feature a scene in which the family members of a deceased relative assemble to hear a lawyer read the terms of the deceased person’s Will....

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Very Bad Choices You Can Make As Personal Representative

Oct 22, 2012 / By: Deborah Sexton, Estate Planning Attorney

Category: Estate Planning, probate

Choice 1: Spending estate funds on personal expenses. Your role as an executor or personal representative requires you to properly manage all estate property as a fiduciary, meaning you cannot simply use your position to benefit...

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Deceased Debts – When Creditors Come Calling

Oct 15, 2012 / By: Deborah Sexton, Estate Planning Attorney

Category: Estate Planning, probate

When you experience the death of a family member or loved one, one of the last things you ever think about dealing with are the financial realities that the deceased person left behind. In some...

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3 Types of Property That Avoid Probate

Oct 8, 2012 / By: Deborah Sexton, Estate Planning Attorney

Category: Avoiding, probate

If you are interested in avoiding the expense and time involved in having your estate pass through probate, an estate plan that focuses on probate avoidance should be one of your primary goals. While many...

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