| Read Time: 5 minutes | Wills

What Happens If You Don’t Have a Will?

There is a lot of misinformation about what happens if you don’t have a will when you die. Contrary to popular belief, your property rarely passes to the state if you die without a will. Instead, it is distributed to your legal heirs according to the state’s intestacy laws. Heirs include relatives by blood or by marriage. Although intestacy...

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| Read Time: 4 minutes | Wills

What Is the Difference Between an Executor and an Administrator in New York?

When a person dies, their assets must be distributed. The distribution process varies based on whether the person had a valid will and the size of their estate. If the person who died, legally known as the decedent, had a will, an executor is responsible for administering the estate. If the decedent died without a will or their estate...

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| Read Time: 4 minutes | Wills

Are Handwritten or Oral Wills Enforceable in New York?

A will is a legal document that explains how a person’s assets and belongings should be distributed after their death. In New York, there are rules a will must follow to be valid and enforceable. Handwritten wills and oral wills do not usually follow these rules. Because of this, handwritten or oral wills are only enforceable in New York...

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| Read Time: 4 minutes | Wills

What Are the Duties of a Personal Representative of a Will?

A personal representative of your will, also known as the executor, is the party responsible for carrying out your final wishes, evaluating your estate, filing proper documents, and distributing assets to beneficiaries. It is a role that you should not fill with the first person that comes to mind. Instead, you must carefully think about who you can trust...

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| Read Time: 4 minutes | Wills

Reasons Siblings Fight and Contest Wills – and How to Prevent It

When you draft your will, you have the best intentions for your loved ones. You want to provide for them, make sure they have a healthy financial future and have a little extra for what they need. Unfortunately, when wills go through probate, emotions, combined with high sums of money, take over. This can lead to fights among siblings,...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | Wills

Protect Your Legacy With Three Essential Estate Planning Tools

An estate consists of the personal or real property, possessions, and financial holdings that a person has accumulated during his or her lifetime. Estates do not apply only to the wealthy. One’s estate simply consists of the personal property owned by that individual, regardless of the amount of property. An estate can consist of a modest home and vehicle,...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | Wills

Preventative Measures to Defend Against Will Contests

The purpose of a will is to be sure that your affairs are handled after your death and that your loved ones are taken care of properly. A will also protects your estate from various forms of litigation, including suits filed by family members who do not agree with the will’s contents. For this reason, it is important to...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | Wills

5 Reasons to Draft a Will Right Now

Many mistakenly believe that drafting a will is something that only needs to be done by old, retired people who have families and are facing their end of life decisions. There are, however, many reasons to draft a will no matter what age you are. It is really never too early to make your will. 1. Serve Your Family...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | Wills

How to Help Beneficiaries Avoid Squandering Their Inheritance

Beneficiaries of estates may not be prepared to manage what their parents or others may leave for them after they are deceased. There could be mismanagement of the estate or fights over who receives what after their loved one has died. It is important for will-makers (testators) to help their beneficiaries prepare for their inheritance by placing stipulations on...

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