Recent Blog Posts
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 »
Missing Heir Could Decide the Fate of a Public Park
Finding the right heir to an estate is important for several reasons. It ensures that family wealth is kept in the family, the wishes of the decedent can be upheld, and parties who have the legal right to inherit are given the opportunity to collect that which belongs to them. Normally, identifying the right… Read More »
How the World of Unregulated Heir Hunters Overcharge Beneficiaries
It is important to note that the term “Heir Hunters” refers to those who are acting in that capacity without the knowledge or authority of the administrators, personal representatives, or their attorneys, or on behalf of or accountable to those parties who are responsible for an estate where there may be missing heirs or… Read More »
Probate 101: What to Know Before You Research a Deceased
Building a genealogical tree is a multi-step, complex process. Establishing a complete picture of a decedent’s heritage may be necessary when administering probate in order to find the proper heirs to the estate. Below, we offer a few tips for estate administrators and family members conducting research in connection with probate. For qualified, comprehensive… Read More »
How Forensic Genealogy Can Help You
Forensic genealogy is not a commonly-known practice area. Most people do not know what a forensic genealogist does, if they’ve even heard of the profession. Forensic genealogists perform an important service for estate administrators and others in need of accurate pictures of heirship and genealogy. Read on for a discussion of the important functions… Read More »