Multi-State Estate Planning Articles

When a family member dies and the appropriate relatives begin to go through the probate process it’s normal to have a lot of questions. Confusion over first steps, what comes next and what the process entails can increase stress during an already stressful time. One question that can arise if the deceased person owned debt, often in the form of credit card debt, is whether the close relatives are personally responsible for that debt. It’s not uncommon for creditors to begin calling family members in an effort to collect on the deceased person’s debt.

In cases in which probate is required, the executor of the estate or the next of kin cannot take the actions necessary to administer the estate without the authority granted by the probate court. Probate is a complicated process that requires executors to prepare forms, meet deadlines, keep records, generate reports, submit filings to the court, and serve notices to creditors, heirs and local newspapers.

Trust litigation occurs when the court is needed to resolve any disputes over your trust. Some of the most common causes of these disputes are around questions of the legality of the trust. This can include but are not limited to questioning the sound mind of the trustor/deceased at the time of writing the trust, accusations of fund misuse by the trustee, or suspicion of manipulation or coercion upon the trustor/deceased. If these conflicts reach the level where the family cannot agree, parties may seek legal representation to dispute the trust, which will begin trust litigation.

When a family member dies and the appropriate relatives begin to go through the probate process it’s normal to have a lot of questions. Confusion over first steps, what comes next and what the process entails can increase stress during an already stressful time. One question that can arise if the deceased person owned debt, often in the form of credit card debt, is whether the close relatives are personally responsible for that debt. It’s not uncommon for creditors to begin calling family members in an effort to collect on the deceased person’s debt.

In cases in which probate is required, the executor of the estate or the next of kin cannot take the actions necessary to administer the estate without the authority granted by the probate court. Probate is a complicated process that requires executors to prepare forms, meet deadlines, keep records, generate reports, submit filings to the court, and serve notices to creditors, heirs and local newspapers.

Trust litigation occurs when the court is needed to resolve any disputes over your trust. Some of the most common causes of these disputes are around questions of the legality of the trust. This can include but are not limited to questioning the sound mind of the trustor/deceased at the time of writing the trust, accusations of fund misuse by the trustee, or suspicion of manipulation or coercion upon the trustor/deceased. If these conflicts reach the level where the family cannot agree, parties may seek legal representation to dispute the trust, which will begin trust litigation.

When a family member dies and the appropriate relatives begin to go through the probate process it’s normal to have a lot of questions. Confusion over first steps, what comes next and what the process entails can increase stress during an already stressful time. One question that can arise if the deceased person owned debt, often in the form of credit card debt, is whether the close relatives are personally responsible for that debt. It’s not uncommon for creditors to begin calling family members in an effort to collect on the deceased person’s debt.

In cases in which probate is required, the executor of the estate or the next of kin cannot take the actions necessary to administer the estate without the authority granted by the probate court. Probate is a complicated process that requires executors to prepare forms, meet deadlines, keep records, generate reports, submit filings to the court, and serve notices to creditors, heirs and local newspapers.

Trust litigation occurs when the court is needed to resolve any disputes over your trust. Some of the most common causes of these disputes are around questions of the legality of the trust. This can include but are not limited to questioning the sound mind of the trustor/deceased at the time of writing the trust, accusations of fund misuse by the trustee, or suspicion of manipulation or coercion upon the trustor/deceased. If these conflicts reach the level where the family cannot agree, parties may seek legal representation to dispute the trust, which will begin trust litigation.