As the owner of an estate or testator, you decide who inherits your property and assets after your death. Your will outlines your decisions and provides instructions on how you wish to manage your estate. If you're concerned about how your family can manage the assets...
Estate Planning
When can avoiding probate help you save money?
Some may consider using various estate planning tools to save money by avoiding probate, but this mindset is often a misconception. Establishing trusts and other options can become more costly than probate expenses. Still, saving money can be possible when avoiding...
What are the benefits of a pour-over will?
Wills can include various conditions to serve different functions. It can have specific or general directions on what happens to the testator's estate after they pass on. Sometimes, this document can work in tandem with other estate planning tools. For example, a...
What is the difference between probate and estate administration?
When a person dies, they leave behind their estate. Sometimes, that includes debt. The reason estate administration and probate administration are so similar is because they both refer to the process of collecting the decedent’s assets, paying their debts and...
Can a spouse challenge a will that disinherits them in Ohio?
Some Ohio estates make their way through probate court without any issues. An individual clearly describes what should happen with their property in their will, and the person serving as the personal representative of their estate is able to follow those instructions...
Is a trust better than a will?
The main legal document in an estate plan is a will. A will is essentially a set of instructions that dictate how assets are distributed. Heirs and beneficiaries can benefit from a will, but there can be some issues that prevent that from happening. For starters, a...
What can happen to my estate if I die without a will?
When a person dies, their family members could rely on their estate plan to determine what to do with their assets. Ideally, they could settle matters based on the deceased's wishes. However, some people could pass on without a will. In this instance, local intestacy...
An overview of will and trusts
Many people know that there are two types of estate planning tools, called a will and trust, but they may not know the differences between them. Will overview and benefits A will is a legal document that addresses how a person wants their assets to be distributed...
Don’t miss these first steps in the estate administration process
If you’ve been left with the responsibility to administer a loved one’s estate after they pass away, you might be feeling overwhelmed and uncertain of where to start the process. That’s okay. You’ve taken the important first step of seeking out information. And...
Completing a durable power of attorney
A durable power of attorney (POA) is an important part of an estate plan. It is a legal document that grants an agent the legal authority to make important decisions on behalf of another person, who is called the principal. It is important for the principal to choose...