Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Bob Carlson researches all facets of retirement finances. About 70% of U.S. adults don’t have a will or trust, according to ...

If you ask most people what they want out of an estate plan, the answer is usually: “Make the process easy on my family and ...

Can probate delays be avoided? Personal representatives, such as executors and administrators, play a key role in avoiding probate delays. These people are responsible for managing the estate, which ...

When you die, estate planners say, one of the finest gifts you can leave your heirs is a plan for avoiding probate. Probate is a legal process that distributes a dead person’s assets and settles their ...

Living trusts can help avoid probate and simplify estate planning. Here’s how they work, their limits and who may benefit ...

One of the most effective tools in the estate planning process is a trust, which can offer significant advantages-including the ability to bypass the often lengthy and costly probate process. Trusts, ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Probate is a largely misunderstood but generally feared concept. Over half of the respondents to a recent study said that they ...

When I discuss estate planning with clients and get to the topic of real estate, a lot of clients say, “Both our names are on ...

We collaborate with the world's leading lawyers to deliver news tailored for you. Sign Up for any (or all) of our 25+ Newsletters. Some states have laws and ethical rules regarding solicitation and ...

Why a living trust isn't the answer for all your assets.

There are good reasons people want their estates to avoid probate, and a lot of ways to do it. Probate can tie up the estate for months or longer and incur extra expenses. While some states and ...