Can an Executor Sell a House Without Beneficiaries Approving?

Can an Executor Sell a House Without Beneficiaries Approving?

While an executor may refuse to sell a house if the will explicitly forbids it or if selling the property would not serve the best interests of the estate or its beneficiaries,... Read more »
Do You Pay Taxes on Inheritance in California?

Do You Pay Taxes on Inheritance in California?

Estate Tax  None  Yes, but only for estates that exceed $13.99 million in value for individuals and $27.98 million for married couples (as of 2025).  Tax rates are between 18% and 40%,... Read more »
How Do Executors of an Estate Locate Assets?

How Do Executors of an Estate Locate Assets?

Yes, there are many ways to locate a deceased person’s assets at no cost — and many of them have been covered in this article. For example, you can review the decedent’s... Read more »
Can You Sue a Trust After Death?

Can You Sue a Trust After Death?

Is a trustee acting improperly? Do assets need to be recovered from a trust? Discuss your concerns with a probate litigation firm before it’s too late. Suppose a decedent’s trust instructs for... Read more »
Trustee vs. Beneficiary: Differences in Roles Explained

Trustee vs. Beneficiary: Differences in Roles Explained

Trustees and beneficiaries have distinct roles during administration. When the two clash, timely legal guidance can prevent disputes from escalating.  When a trust creator (called a settlor, grantor, or trustor) dies, the successor trustee initiates trust administration to distribute trust assets... Read more »
Surviving Spouse Social Security Benefits After Death — Explained

Surviving Spouse Social Security Benefits After Death — Explained

If your spouse recently passed away, you may be wondering: Does Social Security offer survivor benefits to the surviving spouse? When can I collect Social Security survivor benefits? How much will I... Read more »
How to Improve Your Chances of Successfully Contesting a Trust

How to Improve Your Chances of Successfully Contesting a Trust

We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show personalized ads. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process... Read more »
Who Can Contest a Will?

Who Can Contest a Will?

When it comes to who can contest a will, the rule is straightforward: Only individuals with something tangible to gain or lose from a decedent’s estate have the right to bring a... Read more »
Can You Contest a Will After Probate?

Can You Contest a Will After Probate?

Whether a will can be contested after probate depends on when you’re attempting to challenge it. Are you seeking to contest the will after it has been admitted to probate, or after... Read more »
Two Names on Deed, One Person Dies — What’s Next?

Two Names on Deed, One Person Dies — What’s Next?

When there are two names on a deed and one person dies, what happens next depends on how the property was titled — namely, on whether the deceased co-owner had the legal... Read more »