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 Taxes: Specific Strategies That Can Save You a Bundle

The federal estate tax has often been referred to as the sneak-up-on-'em tax. It applies to all your property interests---home, investments, IRAs, business assets, personal property and life insurance---to name several. This tax is imposed on the ...
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Estate Taxes

The Government taxes you even when you die! The tax rate begins at 37% and tops out at 55%. Some people may call these "transfer" or "death" or inheritance taxes. A lawyer would call them the Federal Unified Gift and Estate Tax. This is a tax you ...
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Estates Involving Foreign Nationals Present Challenges

Introduction As more foreign nationals relocate to the United States for education, training, and employment, more estate planners must apply the U.S. tax rules to transfers to or from foreign national individuals. Different estate and gift tax laws ...
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Euro Conversion

Edited by Sanford H. Goldberg, J.D., And Herbert H. Alpert, J.D. Euro Conversion Temp. Regs. Take Favorable Approach on Gain Recognition Despite the potential for finding taxable events in various milestones along the road to the conversion of ...
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Factors To Consider in Establishing and Administering A Revocable Inter VIVOS Trust

"Revocable Trust" means a Trust created by written instrument during the lifetime of the "Grantor" which may be revoked or amended by the Grantor during his/her lifetime or other designated period. "Grantor" is usually the person who established the Trust and whose property ...
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Fiduciary Obligations Related to Estate Planning and Administration

Article provided by the Prince Law Firm. Please visit our Web site at www.probateprince.com. When an individual dies, his or her estate has to be administered, debts settled and assets distributed. Often these duties fall to a fiduciary such as an ...
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Finance in Illinois

In almost every session of the General Assembly in recent years, legislation has emerged which required school districts to adopt certain new school policies. As noted above, the 1997 school reform bill required school districts to adopt policies ...
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First Steps: How to Start a Small Business

Starting and managing a business takes motivation, desire and talent. It also takes research and planning. Like a chess game, success in small business starts with decisive and correct opening moves. And although initial mistakes are not fatal, it ...
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Florida Estate Procedures

It is necessary to "probate" an estate for any person who has passed away leaving assets titled in their name alone. Any assets which are titled jointly between the decedent and another person or persons should pass automatically to the survivor or ...
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Florida Guardianship Procedures

A person is qualified under Florida Law to serve as a guardian if he or she: Has never been convicted of a felony.Filed with the Court, along with the Petition to Determine Incapacity, is a Petition for Appointment of Guardian, and an Application ...
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