estate-planning

A probate estate is the collection of a decedent’s assets that must go through court administration to transfer to heirs or beneficiaries. It generally includes assets owned s...

Maryland intestacy laws determine who inherits your property when you die without a valid will. These rules, found in the Estates and Trusts Article, provide a default distribut...

A complex irrevocable trust is an irrevocable trust designed with layered provisions that can address multi-jurisdictional assets, blended-family goals, creditor protection, and...

North Carolina estate law governs how a person’s assets and debts are handled after death. It affects residents planning their own future and families navigating probate after...

The Gift to Minors Act is a uniform law that enables adults to make outright financial gifts to minors while retaining professional custodial control until the minor reaches the...

A contingent beneficiary designation names a person or entity that receives assets if the primary beneficiary cannot, will not, or does not survive the owner. This matters for r...

When a person dies, any unclaimed funds they held become part of their estate. These funds exist in accounts, payrolls, or digital platforms that have gone dormant and are often...

A funny last will can lighten an inherently difficult topic while still distributing assets and naming guardians. Testators add jokes, quirky bequests, or tongue-in-cheek instru...

When someone dies and the estate has no money, beneficiaries often wonder whether they must pay the debts, how bills get paid, and what happens to inheritances. An estate is leg...

An irrevocable trust transfers ownership of property out of your personal name and into the trust, which can affect how you sell it and who receives the proceeds. When you place...