Category Archives: Probate
If You Sell an Inherited Real Estate Property While the Estate Is Still in Probate, You Must Notify the Court
Your family member may have named you as the personal representative of their estate because of a professional qualification of yours. Perhaps you have worked as a tax preparer, insurance agent, financial adviser, or some other occupation where you are used to dealing with financial and legal paperwork. You might have a natural gift… Read More »
Reopening an Estate in the District of Columbia
Many people named as personal representatives of an estate feel some anxiety about the probate process, just because it is a legal process with which they do not have any experience. Once the estate settles and closes, they often feel a great sense of relief; later on, they might even enjoy comparing stories with… Read More »
When Real Estate Properties Go Through Probate
If a family member has named you as the personal representative of their estate, and you are starting the probate process for that estate, friends have probably already started reassuring you that probate is usually formulaic and painless and that, apart from having to pay some bills and taxes from the estate, you will… Read More »
Common Types of Disputes in a Washington DC Probate
When someone passes away and they have assets, the estate will typically go through a process known as probate. This is the legal process where the court will oversee the administration of the estate to validate beneficiaries and heirs, resolve debts, and pay taxes. Part of this process may also involve dealing with disputes…. Read More »
What does a Personal Representative do During a District of Columbia Probate Administration?
The personal representative, also called the executor, is someone who has been appointed to administer the estate of someone who has passed away. They are required to settle all debts and distribute the estate’s assets in the most efficient manner possible. Their main duty is to protect the estate and honor the decedent’s wishes…. Read More »
What is an Executor’s Role in a Washington DC Probate?
When someone passes away in the District of Columbia, their estate has to be “opened” with the Probate Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The original will must be filed, along with a petition for probate by the person nominated to be the executor in the will. The executor, or… Read More »
Contesting a Will in Washington DC
The purpose of a will is to spell out how a deceased person wants their property and other assets to be distributed. A valid will is legally binding, and is one that is properly executed, the decedent was in his or her right mind, and there was no undue outside influence. Therefore, it is… Read More »
Why Use a Living Trust over a Will?
When you’re figuring out estate planning, many people automatically default to thinking about having a will prepared. However, have you thought about a living trust? Do you know the differences and why a living trust may be a better alternative to a standard will? Without either, your estate would likely pass to your spouse… Read More »
Overview of Small Estate Probate in Washington DC
For individuals who died after April 26, 2001, and whose assets didn’t exceed $40,000, a small estate probate proceeding is an alternative to standard probate. Opening a small estate proceeding allows the court to appoint a personal estate representative to settle claims and make a distribution of assets. These types of proceedings are typically… Read More »
