Discovering an outstanding debt during estate administration can be frustrating. As an appointed representative, you must navigate the complexities of settling these debts while managing the emotional toll of losing a loved one. Paying off debts: Steps and outcomes...
Why inventory and appraisal matter in estate administration
When you lose a loved one, you and your family would typically face profound challenges that extend far beyond coping with grief and loss. You must also navigate the legal complexities of administering the estate they leave behind. This legal process involves a...
How do you prepare for probate in Tennessee?
When a loved one passes away, their family often faces a critical legal process known as probate. This procedure involves settling the deceased person's debts and distributing their assets according to their will or state law. If you are the designated executor or...
Why does probate take so long?
As you begin planning your estate, you might hear legal professionals advising you to bypass the legal process called probate at all costs. During this process, a court takes over the distribution of a person’s assets when they pass away. From validating the will to...
Why do lawyers advise you to avoid probate?
Bypassing the probate process may be one of the critical pieces of advice you will hear from lawyers and financial advisers when you start planning your estate. Probate is a necessary legal process where a court validates your will, settles your debts and distributes...
Probate avoidance and other benefits of revocable trusts
A common stereotype about trusts is that they are only beneficial to wealthy families or those with many assets. However, trusts have some distinct advantages that can benefit nearly every Tennessee family. Revocable trusts, in particular, are some of the most popular...
2 ways to keep an estate out of probate court
Losing a loved one is one of the most devastating and challenging things to face. When a loved one passes away, the last thing the family wants to think about is how their loved one’s estate will be handled. In Tennessee, if a person dies without a plan in place,...
Using a living trust to avoid probate
It's safe to say that those in Tennessee want as much of their money and assets as possible to be passed down to loved ones when they die. However, if a person dies without an estate plan in place, they will be considered to have died in-state and their possessions...
What happens if a family member tries to delay probate?
Some of the many complications that can arise after the death of a loved one are those related to what happens to the property of the deceased. The process of distributing assets and settling remaining affairs associated with a Tennessee estate is called probate, and...
What typically happens during the probate process?
Losing a loved one can create a challenging time, both emotionally and with trying to navigate all of the legal matters suddenly at hand. In many cases, these issues will involve the formal steps needed to settle the deceased individual’s estate using the probate...
