Category
Estate Planning
6 posts in this category, newest first.
The Probate Process Explained: Small Estate Affidavits, Full Administration, and the Typical Timeline
Probate is the court-supervised process of transferring a decedent's assets. This post explains when a small estate affidavit can substitute, how full administration works, and the typical timeline from death to distribution.
Power of Attorney Basics: Durable vs Springing, Healthcare POA, and What Makes a POA Valid
A power of attorney is only as strong as the document. This post explains the durable, springing, and healthcare variations, the formalities that make them valid, and the limits a third party can refuse to honor.
Smart Legal Documents with attorney review: AI-drafted, then reviewed and signed
Smart Legal Documents is the LawSensai product that drafts a document with AI, routes it to a real attorney for review, and finishes with a canvas-draw signature. It uses HMAC-signed completion webhooks and a public attorney rating page.
How to write a basic will: required elements, witnesses, and self-proving affidavits
A valid will requires a few specific elements that every state recognizes. This post covers capacity, intent, signature, witnesses, self-proving affidavits, and the choices that determine whether a will controls or whether state intestacy law does.
Wills vs. Trusts vs. Nothing: A Plain-English Decision Tree
Most adults do not have a will. The default rules (intestate succession) often produce results the deceased would not have chosen. A simple decision tree helps a healthy adult pick between a will, a revocable living trust, and a hybrid arrangement based on family structure, asset complexity, and state.
Power of Attorney: The Four Types, and Which One You Actually Need
A power of attorney is the document that lets someone else act for you, and the differences between general, durable, springing, and limited POAs are the difference between a tool that protects you and one that exposes you. Here is a plain-English breakdown of each type and how to pick the right one.