Many people believe their estate will have to go through probate when they die. But that's not necessarily true. You have several options if you want to keep your assets out of probate altogether. What is probate? Probate is the court-supervised process of validating...
Estate And Probate Law
What happens to minor children when parents die without a will?
An estate plan is a way for someone to protect their closest loved ones when they have no power to take any other actions. The guardian that someone names in their estate plan is one of the most important protections that the parent or guardian of a minor child can...
Who should consider creating medical powers of attorney?
Many people shy away from the creation of powers of attorney, largely because they dislike the idea of giving someone else authority over their lives. A medical power of attorney effectively authorizes someone else to make choices about what treatment you receive if...
Remarriage typically requires updating your estate plan
Reviewing and potentially updating your estate plan is crucial whenever you have a significant life event. Marriage and divorce are two such life events, and both nearly always warrant some significant revisions. If you’re divorced and preparing to remarry, it’s...
Tips to make the probate process as stress-free as possible
Whether you are a designated personal representative or trying to handle your relative’s estate on your own, chances are, you will have to undergo probate in Pennsylvania. It is a process that intimidates a lot of people, but you can take steps to prepare for probate...
3 benefits of estate planning for families
You love your family and want to know that your estate plan, as well as theirs, are all working to benefit the people around you. Good discussions about estate planning help everyone stay informed and get on the same page when someone passes away. Here are three...
Do you need an estate plan if your income is low?
Traditionally, estate planning was viewed as something that only applied to wealthy individuals. However, there is a lot more to estate planning than money. With the appropriate documents, you can set in motion provisions that ensure your family is protected and your...
What happens to your children if both parents pass away without a will?
Estate planning doesn't just protect you. It also allows you to protect those who depend on you for basic needs. It may seem incredibly unlikely that you and your spouse would both die and leave your children without parents. While it is rare, this exact situation...
Can anyone challenge a will?
In theory, when someone passes away, their will offer some direction to their heirs as they go through the probate process. It can tell them what the deceased person would have wanted, how the assets are to be split up and things of this nature. When someone doesn't...
Disregard these myths about probate in Pennsylvania
The term probate seems to strike a note of dread in most people. They view it as some horrific event that they must endure before receiving the inheritance a loved one left behind. The probate procedure is a complicated process, but it is generally unworthy of its...