If you’re serving as the personal representative of an estate, you’re taking on a big responsibility. As the personal representative, you’re tasked with making an inventory of the estate’s assets, paying debts and distributing the remaining assets to heirs. A court...
After a person dies, the estate typically has to go through probate, a legal process in which a court oversees the distribution of assets and payment of debts according to the terms of the will. Although probate can sometimes be avoided through estate planning, it is...
What happens if one spouse disinherits the other? The answer, as with many complex legal questions, is that it depends. In Oregon, however, surviving spouses have the right to what is known as the spousal elective share. Key Terms to Know Before diving into the Oregon...
You’ve probably heard that you need an estate plan. It’s true. Estate planning is important for every adult. But when it comes to estate plans, it’s not just a matter of whether you have one, yes or no. It’s also a matter of whether you have a good estate plan. After...
Probate is a common process that many estates need to go through, but for anyone who has never encountered it before, it can be confusing. If you’re dealing with probate for the first time, you probably have many basic questions about what probate is and how...
After someone dies, the person’s estate needs to pay off any debts before the remaining assets can be distributed to the heirs. Often, this requires probate, a legal process overseen by a court. The personal representative, also called the executor of the estate, will...