Probate is the process of distributing your assets after you die. Depending on the details of the estate, the probate process will be relatively complex or relatively simple. In many cases, especially with large estates, the process is far too complex to manage without the assistance of an experienced probate legal practitioner. Following is an overview of the basic...
Continue ReadingWhich court you must use to open probate depends on where the decedent lived and where their assets were located. Depending on the circumstances, you might not need to open probate at all. On the other end of the spectrum, you might need to institute probate proceedings in more than one jurisdiction. The larger and more complex the estate...
Continue ReadingThe Uniform Rules for New York State Trial Courts, Part 207 imposes no formal probate time limit on executors. Theoretically, you could wait for decades to apply for probate, and some people have. Once you begin the process, however, individual courts do set their own probate time limits for when various documents must be submitted. Although there is no...
Continue ReadingThe death of a loved one is always a difficult time – a time that few of us will be able to avoid during our lifetimes. The emotional turmoil that accompanies the death of a loved one is further intensified if the death was unexpected. Despite this turmoil, there are a number of steps that you need to take,...
Continue ReadingNew York state law provides numerous legal grounds for removing a trustee from a trust. These grounds apply to many different types of trusts, including family trusts. The trust document, created by the grantor of the trust, can specify additional grounds for removing the trustee of a family trust.If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact the the...
Continue ReadingOnce probate is granted, that is when an executor’s primary duties begin. Now it is time for the executor to start gathering assets, paying off any debts, and filing papers with the court to administer the estate and eventually close it out. The entire process begins with the executor requesting probate from the court, which usually requires a filing...
Continue ReadingInheriting property out of state will require extra steps before you can take over that property – whether you plan to live in it, rent it, or just sell it. There are ways to help loved ones avoid these issues if you plan to give an inheritance to someone out of your state, and knowing your options can help...
Continue ReadingNew York, like most states, requires a minimum asset value of the estate to require probate. Therefore, if an estate’s value is under that, then the estate goes through a small estate proceeding. That said, even if an estate is below the threshold, that does not mean the Surrogate’s Court is not involved. Likewise, you should never assume that...
Continue ReadingYou only have so much time to probate a will after someone dies, and if you fail to do so, the will becomes invalid. Not only do you lose the chance to probate that will, which includes settling the estate and distributing assets, but if you were the executor of that estate, you open yourself up to numerous liability...
Continue ReadingProbate cost is an expensive, time-consuming legal procedure that closes out your estate – but it is not a necessary step. You can avoid probate by planning ahead, working alongside a trusted probate attorney, and saving your loved ones from having to deal with the delays and costs associated with the probate court. What Is Probate, and Why Do...
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