Wills and estates law

A will does not govern the transfer of certain types of assets, called non-probate property, which by operation of law (title) or contract (such as a beneficiary designation) pass to someone other than your estate on your death. For example, real estate and other assets owned with rights of survivorship pass automatically to the surviving owner. Laws of intestate succession, estate administration, and much more.

Descent and distribution of real and personal property. B, Article III Probate of wills and administration. The following links are designed to help answer some of your questions about wills , trusts and estate planning.

The information provided here is not intended to cover every situation. The resources listed below contain general legal information that should not be used as a substitute for specific legal advice. The property that a person leaves behind when they die is called the “decedent’s estate. The “decedent” is the person who died. Their “ estate” is the property they owned when they died.

To transfer or inherit property after someone dies, you must usually go to court. Are wills and estates the same thing? Will and estate lawyer?

Find information on probate , the process of transferring property and ownership after someone has died.

This is different from a will, which is the document in which someone states their final requests and wishes. We put estate plans in reach for everyone. Learn More about what goes into an estate plan and how to choose the best mix for you. Questions Answered Every Seconds.

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Choose a link from the list below for state-specific laws on wills. Incidental powers (Repealed). Venue of trust estates. Situs of testamentary trust (Deleted by amendment).

In regards to Cypriot. Florida Code Section 732. In order to create a valid will. Our focus is on the smooth transition of wealth to future generations and charitable organizations with minimal tax or other negative financial consequences.

Generally, if you die without a will, trust, or other provision for the distribution of your money and property, that money and property will be distributed according to California law. A trust is an arrangement to hold assets for the benefit of another.

This is a complicated process, but essentially the state will determine who gets the property based on their relationship to you. In legal terms, it is an estate in real property that ends at death when ownership of the property may revert to the original owner, or it may pass to another person. All Major Categories Covered. A valid will allows a person to designate how his or her estate is distributed and otherwise managed upon his or her death.

Depending on the type of inheritance law your state has, a surviving spouse may be able to claim an inheritance despite what you may have written into your will. The surviving spouse automatically receives all community property. Separate personal property also goes completely to the surviving spouse, while separate real property is split down the middle between the surviving spouse and the deceased’s parents, siblings or siblings’ descendants, in that order. Any person who is years of age or older and who is of sound mind may make a will. If you do not have a will, the state determines who, if anyone, is entitled to receive your estate after your death.

Actually, now inter vivos and testamentary trusts have relatively similar flexibility with regard to choosing state law. Avoiding will contests – Much more difficult to contest inter vivos revocable trusts. Estate taxation – No federal tax advantages to revocable trust.

Our corporate lawyers, wills lawyers and probate lawyers offer: Flexible meeting times – Our estate planning lawyers are available weekdays and evenings to accommodate your busy schedule.