When a married couple creates an estate plan using a revocable living trust (RLT), they have the option of creating a single joint trust or separate trusts. Whatever the reasons for creating separate trusts, when the ultimate beneficiary is the same for both spouses’ trusts (often the couple’s child or children), the question that inevitably […]
In estate planning circles, the word “probate” often carries a negative connotation. Indeed, many people—especially those with valuable accounts and property— desire to keep their accounts and property out of probate whenever possible. That being said, the probate system was ultimately established to protect the deceased’s accounts and property as well as their family, and […]
Ideally, when someone passes away, the paperwork and material concerns associated with the deceased’s passing are so seamlessly handled (thanks to excellent preparation) that they fade into the background, allowing the family and other loved ones to grieve and remember the deceased in peace. In fact, the whole business of estate planning—or at least a […]
Probate — people often consider it a dirty word. Especially those who have gone through the probate process. But for the rest of us, what even is probate? The Black’s Law legal dictionary defines ‘probate’ as the “legal process to determine the validity of a will.” In layman’s terms, it’s the process of the court […]
