Learn how probate validates a will, pays debts, and distributes assets to heirs. State intestacy laws apply when there is no ...

Probate court is a specialized type of court that deals with the property and debts of a person who has died. The primary function of probate court is to ensure that a decedent's estate is distributed ...

Christy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and ...

Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia. Ebony Howard is a certified public accountant and a QuickBooks ProAdvisor tax expert. She ...

The validity of a will is formally challenged in what is known as a caveat proceeding. A caveat proceeding is effectively a type of lawsuit ...

For many people, probate court seems like something to be avoided at all costs. It brings to mind images of an estate bogged down in the legal system while heirs wait for assets to be released.

CAMDEN, S.C. — Debbie Branham, the Probate Judge for Kershaw County, delivered a crucial message Friday Morning in a free workshop to the public. "Everybody needs a will and a power of attorney. If ...

Before you invest time and money into probate avoidance strategies, it's worth taking a step back to understand whether this ...