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Helpful resources to guide you through the probate process.
Essential Guides
What Happens to a Leased Car When Someone Dies?
A car lease does not end when the lessee dies -- it becomes an obligation of the estate. This guide covers your options as an executor, from returning the vehicle to transferring or buying out the lease, plus which leasing companies may forgive remaining payments.
How Much Does Probate Cost? A Complete Breakdown
Probate costs go well beyond attorney fees. From court filing fees and executor compensation to appraisals, surety bonds, and publication costs, this guide breaks down every expense you can expect during the probate process and offers practical tips for keeping costs manageable.
What Happens to a Joint Bank Account When Someone Dies?
Joint bank accounts are one of the most common financial arrangements between spouses and family members. When one account holder passes away, what happens next depends on how the account was set up. This guide explains rights of survivorship, tax implications, FDIC coverage changes, and when probate may still be required.
How to Transfer a Car Title After Death: What You Need to Know
Transferring a vehicle title after a loved one passes away involves specific steps depending on your state, whether there was a will, and how the title was held. This guide covers the documents you need, the DMV process, and common complications like liens and joint ownership.
How to File Taxes for a Deceased Person
Filing taxes for someone who has passed away is one of the first financial responsibilities an executor faces. This guide covers the final individual return, estate income tax, and the deadlines and forms you need to know.
Handling Disputes Among Heirs During Probate: A Practical Guide for Executors and Families
Heir disputes are one of the most common reasons probate gets delayed and expensive. This guide covers the most frequent types of conflicts, your legal options from mediation to litigation, and practical strategies for resolving disagreements before they escalate.
Ancillary Probate & Foreign Estates: What to Do When the Estate Includes Out-of-State Property
If your loved one owned real estate in a state other than where they lived, you may need to open a separate probate proceeding in that state. This guide explains when ancillary probate is required, how the process works, what it costs, and how to avoid it in estate planning.
Managing the Estate of an Estranged Relative: A Practical Guide for Reluctant Executors
Being named executor of an estranged relative's estate creates a unique set of challenges -- from finding assets you did not know existed to navigating complicated family dynamics. This guide covers how to handle the legal obligations, discover unknown assets, and decide whether to serve at all.
Notice to Creditors in Probate: What Executors Need to Know
As an executor, you are required to notify creditors that the estate is open. This guide explains both types of creditor notice, state-specific claim periods, how to evaluate claims, and what happens if you skip this step.
How to Find Tax Documents for a Deceased Person
A practical guide for executors and family members on locating a deceased person's tax returns, W-2s, 1099s, and other tax records — including how to request transcripts from the IRS when originals are missing.
How to Find a Deceased Person's Bank Accounts, Insurance, and Other Assets
A step-by-step guide to locating all of a deceased person's financial accounts, insurance policies, retirement funds, and other assets — especially when there is no will.
How to Close Bank Accounts After Death: A Step-by-Step Guide
Closing a loved one's bank accounts is one of the most common tasks during estate settlement. This guide covers the documents you need, bank-specific processes for Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo, and the difference between POD and non-POD accounts.
Letters Testamentary Explained: What They Are and How to Get Them
Letters testamentary are the key document that gives an executor legal authority to manage a deceased person's estate. This guide explains what they are, how to obtain them, what they cost, and how the process varies by state.
How to Notify Social Security of a Death: What You Need to Know
Reporting a death to the Social Security Administration is one of the first tasks after losing a loved one. This guide covers who needs to notify the SSA, how to handle benefit overpayments, how to claim the lump-sum death payment, and what surviving spouses need to know about survivor benefits.
What to Do When a Parent Dies: A Complete Checklist
Losing a parent is one of life's most difficult experiences. This comprehensive checklist covers everything you need to handle -- from the first 24 hours through the first year -- so nothing important falls through the cracks during an overwhelming time.
Probate Attorney Cost by State: What You'll Really Pay
Probate attorney fees vary wildly depending on your state, the size of the estate, and the fee structure. This guide breaks down real costs for every major state so you know what to expect before you hire.
Probate Without a Lawyer: Can You Do It Yourself?
Many executors wonder if they can handle probate without hiring an attorney. The answer depends on the estate's complexity, your state's requirements, and your willingness to do the research. Here is an honest breakdown of when DIY probate works and when it does not.
Can You Sell a House Before Probate?
Selling a deceased loved one's home is often the most significant financial decision during estate settlement. Learn when you can sell before probate, when court approval is required, and how the rules vary by state.
What Debts Are Forgiven at Death?
Not all debts follow you to the grave. Federal student loans are discharged, but mortgages and joint debts survive. Learn exactly which debts are forgiven at death, which ones the estate must pay, and when family members could be on the hook.
How to Find Out If Someone Left a Will
After a loved one passes away, one of the first questions families face is whether a will exists. This guide covers where to search, how to access probate court records, and what to do if no will can be found.
How Long Does an Executor Have to Settle an Estate?
There is no single deadline for settling an estate, but executors face real time pressure from courts, creditors, and beneficiaries. Learn the state-specific timelines, consequences of delay, and what beneficiaries can do if the process stalls.
Do All Wills Go Through Probate?
Having a will does not automatically mean the estate must go through full probate. Learn when wills skip probate entirely, when simplified procedures apply, and the key factors that determine whether probate is required.
Small Estate Affidavit: When You Can Skip Probate
Many states allow small estates to bypass the full probate process using a simplified affidavit procedure. Learn the thresholds, requirements, and step-by-step process for your state.
Probate Without a Will: How Intestate Succession Works
When someone dies without a will, state law determines who inherits. This guide explains intestate succession rules, how administrators are appointed, and what families need to know.
Estate Inventory Checklist: How to Find and Catalog All Assets
Creating a thorough estate inventory is one of the executor's most important responsibilities. This checklist covers every asset category to help ensure nothing is overlooked.
How Long Does Probate Take? Timeline by State
Probate timelines vary dramatically depending on the state, estate complexity, and whether disputes arise. This guide breaks down realistic timelines and the factors that speed things up or slow them down.
What Does an Executor Do? A Complete Guide
Being named executor of an estate is a significant responsibility. This guide covers everything an executor needs to know, from legal duties and fiduciary obligations to practical day-to-day tasks.
5 Things to Do Immediately After a Loved One Passes
The days after losing a loved one are overwhelming. Here are the five most important things to take care of right away, so nothing critical falls through the cracks.
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