Explore Probate Court, including its definition, key functions, actors, and the costs involved. Learn estate strategies to ...

Explore formal probate, including its definition, necessity, key actors, process, benefits, and drawbacks. Learn strategies ...

Christy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and ...

When someone dies, others may be called on to manage their estate. An executor is charged with overseeing the distribution of someone’s assets according to the will or state inheritance laws if they ...

Appointing the right executor is one of the most important decisions when preparing a Will. Executors play a central role in the administration of an estate including applying for probate safeguarding ...

While teaching Estate Planning and Taxation at SFA, I prepared a handout on “Duties of the Executor.” It is detailed but is not all inclusive. Several of my students told me that they shared the ...

Months after the bulk of their mother’s estate was divided and paid, a reader’s sister is seeking to keep a remaining balance of $150,000 as payment for her work as an executor. By Philip Galanes My ...

Q. My wife and I are wondering about the pros and cons of naming an estate planning lawyer versus a family friend or distant relative to serve as executor after we have both passed away. We have no ...