by ILMLaw | Sep 7, 2012 | Estate Planning, Probate
Probate, quite simply, is the process by which the court determines the legal property of a person who has died, and decides to whom those assets will be distributed. It sounds like it should be simple, but somehow, unfortunately, probate is hardly ever simple. Even...
by ILMLaw | Oct 7, 2011 | Estate Planning, Probate, Trust Administration
Losing a spouse may be one of the most difficult life events that any of us have to deal with. A spouse is a parenting partner, a co-CFO, a best friend and a beloved soul mate. Losing the person who supports you in so many ways can create an emptiness which can be...
by ILMLaw | Aug 29, 2011 | Estate Planning, Probate, Trust Administration
When someone creates a will or a trust of course they want to choose a dependable and trustworthy person as executor or trustee. For most people this means someone close to them—a family member or friend, or often the most responsible of their adult children. However,...
by ILMLaw | Jul 11, 2011 | Estate Planning, Probate
When asking about how to avoid probate, many clients have asked about the wisdom of adding family members as joint owners to bank accounts. While joint ownership will achieve the goal of avoiding probate, there are many dangers and drawbacks to adding family...
by ILMLaw | Jun 27, 2011 | Probate, Trust Administration
What is probate? Probate is defined as “the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased person by resolving all claims and distributing the deceased person’s property under the valid will. A probate interprets the instructions of the deceased,...
by ILMLaw | Mar 7, 2011 | Estate Planning, Probate, Trust Administration
Administering the estate of a deceased loved one can be complicated and emotional under the best of circumstances, but executors who take on this overwhelming task may find themselves facing more than just the demands of relatives and heirs—they may also find...
