Wills, Trusts and Probate Law

Probate attorneys handling wills, trusts, and estate administration must typically advise their clients on matters such as beneficiary designation, how to form a life estate in property, what will happen to property if your client fails to make an estate plan, and more. FindLaw’s Corporate Counsel Center Law Library has law articles written to help you better understand specific estate planning techniques and when to consider forming a trust on your client’s behalf. If your client needs a living will or an advance health care directive, click on the articles below to help inform your research and learn the requirements of each state, such as the number of witnesses necessary and who can be designated as a health care surrogate.

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Wills, Trusts and Probate Law Articles

Estate Planning for the Business Executive

If you die without a will in the state of California, your estate will be disbursed pursuant to statute. This is called "intestacy". A probate proceedings will be commenced and your assets disbursed pursuant to the intestate succession statutes. In ...
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Estate Planning Frequently Asked Questions

My wife and I just had our first baby. We don't have much money or property. Do we need a will? Yes. One of the most important things you can do for your children is to designate your choice of the person who would raise you children if you and ...
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Estate Planning: General Information

By using a will, you tell the Personal Representative and Probate Judge who should receive your property. If you die without a will, the State determines who receives your property. This may or may not be what you intended. Yes - the function of ...
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Estate Planning Glossary

The following terms frequently appear in discussions of estate planning, as well as estate planning documents. These definitions should help you understand discussions of this topic. However, as with any word, a particular term may carry different ...
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Estate Planning Goals

Estate planning is creating a portfolio of legal documents which accomplishes a variety of goals. The specific goals of your estate plan should be unique to your circumstances, taking into account your assets, family situation, and requirements for ...
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Estate Planning Issues and Intellectual Property

"Intellectual property" is the broad term for the area of law that protects patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and other forms of intangible property. This area of the law is the primary method to protect against the theft of intangible ...
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Estate Planning Overview

INTRODUCTION Proper estate planning is critical for all families, whether the family has grown children or children in nursery school. Proper planning can enhance a family's financial security 5, 20, or 30 years later. Basic estate planning can also ...
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Estate Planning Update

Under current law, you are allowed to give cash, assets and other property totaling up to $10,000 per year to as many individuals as you desire without incurring a gift tax or using any part of your unified credit exemption (presently $650,000 ...
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Estate Planning

Transferring Assets to Your Minor Children In many cases, it makes sense for a parent/taxpayer to start transferring his wealth to his children well before the end of his own life expectancy and even before his children have reached their majority ...
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Estate Tax Relief Legislation

On September 27, a group of Democratic House members introduced what they consider to be compromise estate tax relief legislation. Members introducing the legislation have been led to believe by top White House officials that President Clinton would ...
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