Recent Blog Posts
The Role of an Ad Litem in Probate and Estate Administration
As a probate attorney or estate administrator, you are often faced with a labyrinth of legal complexities that require nuanced understanding and precise handling. One such critical aspect that warrants attention is the appointment and role of an ‘Ad Litem’ in probate and estate administration. This post aims to shed light on the importance… Read More »
How a Forensic Genealogist Finds Missing Heirs
Many people understand genealogy as the practice of tracing and discovering your ancestors and creating a family tree. This definition is fairly accurate, but there’s a big difference between genealogy and forensic genealogy. Forensic genealogy is a scientific discipline limited to the study of ancestry for use in legal fields. Most often, forensic genealogy… Read More »
Why You Should Conduct an Heir Search Early
When you’re administering an estate, you need to collect a wealth of information about various accounts, parties, properties, and other matters. One big challenge faced by many estate administrators is finalizing their tax forms while still awaiting vital information from putative heirs and other parties. If you wait to track down all of the… Read More »
Where Are They Now? Convicted Heir Hunters Set Up New Shop
Unscrupulous heir hunters overcharge potential beneficiaries and otherwise undermine the work of legitimate genealogical services. We’ve discussed the heir-hunting firm Kemp & Associates, in particular, in a couple of prior posts. Kemp and its COO were convicted of federal antitrust violations, put on probation, and forced to pay heavy fines for taking advantage of… Read More »
What an Executor Can and Cannot Do
Being the executor of an estate is a significant responsibility. The executor is responsible for carrying out the terms of the will and ensuring the transfer of assets and the payment of liabilities in accordance with the law and the decedent’s estate plan. Importantly, there are boundaries to what an executor may or may… Read More »
Preparing Heirs for Transfer of Inheritance
The transfer of wealth can bring a host of concerns and headaches. Heirs may be unprepared to handle the responsibility of managing their newfound assets, whether those are investments and cash or business ownership interests. Read on for tips on how you can ensure your heirs are prepared to receive your inheritance upon your… Read More »
What Do You Do When a Beneficiary Doesn’t Want to Be Found?
If you’ve been cast in the role of estate administrator or executor of a will, one of your functions is to notify all heirs and beneficiaries of their potential inheritance. This can be easier said than done. The will might not state each individual heir by name, referring instead to a class of persons,… Read More »
Estate Planning Checklist
Estate planning is an essential part of adulthood. Once you have any other parties depending upon you, be they children, a spouse, family members, or other loved ones, you need to ensure that they will be taken care of in your absence. Proper estate planning also ensures that you are cared for in your… Read More »
Role of Estate Planning Attorneys
Estate planning attorneys serve an important function before and during the administration of an estate. With a well-crafted estate plan, a person can be sure that their estate will pass to their chosen beneficiaries in accordance with their needs. An estate planning and elder law attorney can also help protect the client’s interests in… Read More »
How Attorneys Can Benefit From a Forensic Genealogist
Forensic genealogists work hand-in-hand with attorneys. Whether you are a probate attorney representing an estate, the estate administrator, or the representative of a client vying for an inheritance, forensic genealogy provides an essential service to serve your client’s interests and protect your law practice. Read on to learn how a forensic genealogist can help… Read More »