Probate & Estate Planning

Individuals use a will to distribute their estate after their passing. However, when other parties corrupt those wishes, a will contest may be necessary. If parties utilize a will contest properly, it is an effective means of righting a grievous wrong. There are a few key facts that people should know about the process in Ohio. Eligibility There are a…

After the testator of a will in Ohio dies and leaves assets in the form of bank accounts, getting to those accounts may be necessary early to pay for the funeral and related expenses, such as a funeral dinner. However, it will be necessary for the next of kin to show certain preliminary identification documents. Prior to setting up probate…

While a parent will typically want to see his or her assets go to a child, seeing those assets go instead to the child’s ex-spouse in a bitter divorce is generally going to be anathema to the parent. A child’s ex-spouse can get in the way of what the decedent clearly wanted, which was to keep his or her assets…

A will is an incredibly important and often overlooked tool. This document can provide a wide array of protections and benefits, but many in Ohio still eschew the estate planning process, viewing it as something for only the rich or very wealthy. A comprehensive will is not reliant on a certain number of valuable assets, and can be used by…

An unexpected cardiac arrest, sudden illness or life-threatening accident can be the split second that changes the life you knew and a future you never planned for. When serious medical issues come up, and you and your loved ones are suddenly facing end-of-life care decisions, you may not fully understand just what these decisions entail. A physician at Massachusetts General…

In the estate planning process, most discussion about probate is about how to avoid it. Many people feel that the best way to deal with the probate process is to avoid it as much as possible. Although probate has gotten a negative reputation, it is not necessarily a negative process. It is important to be informed about the probate process…

As of 2016, it was found that a majority of Americans do not have a will, and that number seems to be on the decline, according to data from Gallup News. While 51 percent of Americans had a will in 2005, only 44 percent had a will at the time of the survey. Writing a will can be stressful, but…

Every estate will go through the probate process when it is administered. But not every estate has to have all of their assets go through that process. Protecting your hard earned property and assets from the probate process is a critical step to saving your beneficiaries and loved ones painful and extended probate litigation, as well as preserving the value…

Suppose a disaster strikes, sudden injury or illness affects your family, or a loved one is trapped and alone—in emergency situations like this, a holographic will may be the only option left for many people. A holographic will is one that is entirely handwritten by the person creating it and done without a lawyer involved. These are usually signed by…

When a loved one passes away, the will he or she leaves behind may need to go through probate, which is a court process that occurs before the distribution of assets. This is often a time-consuming and expensive experience. There may also be family fights that can prolong and complicate the process even more. Probate disputes can arise for various…