Tag
Probate
3 posts tagged Probate, 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.
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.