Probate is a legal process that verifies the validity of a deceased person’s will. This includes addressing debts and distributing remaining assets. If you die without a will or a living trust, ...

The management of deceased bank accounts is a crucial but often overlooked part of dealing with the death of a loved one. Handling these accounts involves legal processes and regulatory requirements, ...

The information in this column is not intended as legal advice but to provide a general understanding of the law. Readers with legal problems, including those whose questions are addressed here, ...

The information in this column is not intended as legal advice but to provide a general understanding of the law. Readers with legal problems, including those whose questions are addressed here, ...

Charlene Rhinehart is a CPA , CFE, chair of an Illinois CPA Society committee, and has a degree in accounting and finance from DePaul University. Suzanne is a content marketer, writer, and ...

Alison Arden Besunder of Arden Besunder P.C. writes that many laypeople assume that joint accounts automatically pass to the survivor when the other depositor dies, thus avoiding probate. The rights ...

Probate. A word that many try to steer clear of when planning their estate. And while probate is not as scary or expensive as many people think, avoiding it where possible is a worthy goal. The ...

Q. Is there a Certificate of Deposit for a husband and wife where if one passes away, the CD is not subject to probate for the surviving spouse? — Planning A. Let’s first talk about probate. There are ...

Q: If I name a beneficiary on my bank account will this avoid probate when I die? – M.C., Orlando A: Yes. If you complete the beneficiary designation form, and your beneficiary is alive at the time of ...