People tend to think of probate as the process by which a person’s assets get distributed after their death. While this is true, it overlooks one very important part of the process: before assets can be distributed, the legitimate debts of the estate must be resolved. Failure to do this means that creditors might try […]
An “as is” sale of real estate is pretty much what it sounds like: the seller is listing the house in its current condition, and is not willing to make repairs or improvements, nor to give a buyer credit for needed repairs or improvements. With a house that is being sold as is, the price […]
Buying a home is something of an adventure; if it weren’t, there wouldn’t be an entire network devoted to shows about house hunting. But adventures can go wrong quickly, and not every quest for a new home ends with the happy ending you see on TV. Here are some red flags you should look for […]
Will contests happen much more frequently in the movies than in real life, but when they do happen, they can cause great hostility and turmoil in a family, not to mention the expense of probate litigation that diminishes the assets in the estate. What is a “no-contest” clause in a last will and testament, how […]
Have you ever wondered, “How can I keep my estate plan private?” Probably not. But with the recent death of music legend Aretha Franklin, a revelation emerged: the Queen of Soul had no estate plan, not even a will. With multiple lawyers on retainer, and a life-threatening illness she had been fighting for years, it’s […]
So you’re the executor of an estate, most likely that of a loved one. In addition to working through your own grief, you’re now responsible for disposing of your loved one’s possessions and assets and settling any debts they owed. Some estates are small and straightforward, others large and complex, but even in the simplest […]
Your house may not be perfect, but it’s your home, and you love its little quirks. That is, until it’s time to sell it, and you realize that potential buyers may find those “quirks” problematic enough that they decide not to make an offer. Learn what you need to disclose when selling your house in […]
If you’re planning to get married, congratulations! There are a lot of decisions to make in the coming weeks and months: how you want to celebrate, whom to invite to your wedding, where to go on a honeymoon. In the midst of all these happy choices, you may not want to think about the possibility […]
If you are reading this article, it is likely that the question of whether to disinherit a child has been troubling you. Many considerations go into the question of whether you should disinherit your child. Perhaps your child has developed a drug or gambling problem, and you fear that leaving them money would simply feed […]
You know that divorce will affect your finances. You may be losing your spouse’s income, or have to pay child support or spousal support. Your living expenses might well consume a larger percentage of your household income. One question you may have forgotten to ask yourself, though, is “how will my divorce affect my credit?” […]
