estate law

A durable power of attorney gives an agent the right to act on behalf of another person, even after he becomes mentally incapacitated or otherwise rendered unable to make his own decisions and handle his affairs. If you want to give…

An irrevocable living trust is an agreement set in writing between you and the person who is going to manage the trust. The terms of the agreement should be set to reflect your own personal needs. There are many advantages to creating an…

When you hire a probate lawyer, you're the boss and can fire him at any time. At least in theory. In practice, firing an attorney can be complicated by the court itself and by the willingness of other lawyers to get involved. And, if…

A Durable Power of Attorney is a written document executed by a competent adult authorizing another person or a corporation to act on her behalf. The document is durable because it survives the principal's future legal incapacity. Third…

What is Tenancy-in-Common? The legal term tenancy-in-common refers to a condition of property ownership wherein each owner has full access to the property despite their co-ownership, yet retains the right to sell their portion of the…

When someone dies, the credit reporting agencies Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion may not get the news for a long time, if ever. It is important to let the credit bureaus know of a loved one's death for several reasons. First, it…

Probate attorneys handle the legal process of validating a will. The executor of the will inventories the assets of the deceased and makes sure all debts are paid. If there is no will, this is handled by a representative of the court.…

If someone else holds legal title to property that you believe is rightfully yours, your position is not necessarily hopeless. Legal procedures are available to invalidate a defective warranty deed and have you recorded as the legal owner.…

When a person dies, her assets are usually handed down to beneficiaries who become the legal owners of the property. This transfer of ownership is commonly carried out according to the terms included in her Last Will and Testament, a…

A power of attorney is a document that confers on someone (the agent) the right to act on another's (the grantor's) behalf. This person need not be an attorney, and the law recognizes him as an attorney-in-fact, as opposed to an…