Most people think of probate as a private process, but because wills are filed at the courthouse, probated estates become a matter of public record. That means your nosy neighbor can simply go online (or down to the courthouse) and find out about your probate. It’s easier than you might imagine. It’s Not Just Mr. […]
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The Probate Process: There are other options! Jessica and John are in their 60s; they have two children. Unfortunately, John’s parents died in an automobile accident two years ago. John’s parents had a last will and testament written with their attorney’s help twenty years ago, but they had not updated it prior to their deaths. […]
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A savings bond is a “debt security” issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to help pay for the U.S. government’s borrowing needs. When you buy a savings bond, you loan the U.S. government money, which the government repays with interest after a fixed period of time. There are currently two types of savings […]
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Hoarding is not to be confused with general messiness, and it’s not an accurate way to describe someone who stockpiles a six-month supply of toilet paper. It’s actually a serious mental disorder that prevents people from discarding items, regardless of their value, and generates severe stress at the mere thought of doing so. It’s very […]
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Many people love to spend their summers at the beach, but experienced beachgoers know that unseen dangers can lie behind the joys of the sun and sand. For example, the undertow is a powerful water current below the surface that moves away from shore as the waves approach. The undertow can knock a person off […]
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Losing a beloved relative or friend can be overwhelming, and handling the person’s complicated affairs in the wake of such a loss only adds to the stress. During this difficult time, many families look for ways to tie up loose ends and distribute the assets of the deceased as expediently as possible. To do so, […]
Read MoreAs of July 1, 2015, Connecticut probate courts earned the dubious distinction of charging the highest probate fees in the U.S. Amazingly, the Connecticut legislature voted to completely cut general fund support for the state’s probate courts for the next two fiscal years, thereby creating a $32 million deficit. In order to cover the shortfall, […]
Read More(This is part 3 in a 4-part series) The bad news: probated estates are subject to a variety of costs from attorneys, executors, appraisers, accountants, courts, and state law. Depending on the probate’s complexity, fees can run into tens of thousands of dollars. The good news: probate costs can be reduced by avoiding probate. It’s […]
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(This is part 2 in a 4-part series) After a loved one dies, their estate must be settled. While most people want the settlement process to be done ASAP, probate can take between 18 and 24 months. Yes, you heard that right. The time delays create unnecessary stress. 4 Reasons Probate Takes So Long There are many […]
Read MoreAs I read articles on the Internet I constantly come across so-called experts hawking ways, typically for a fee, to avoid probate. Unfortunately, these salesmen do come across as experts and the damage they cause is immeasurable. Let’s discuss something that I have been seeing more of and which you need to be aware of. […]
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