People who develop an estate plan in the Greensboro, North Carolina area will almost always include a last will and testament as a part of their plan. The process of creating a will is relatively straightforward. While your estate planning lawyer will tell you what you have to do to make a legal last will, there are some tips you can keep in mind to make sure that you make responsible, … read more
wills
Using a Living Trust to Replace a Will
Sometimes, people ask estate planning attorneys if they can use their living trust to replace a last will and testament. While these types of questions are understandable, they reflect a misunderstanding about what each of these essential estate planning tools do. Both a living trust and a last will and testament are key pieces of any estate plan. Each of them serve specific purposes, … read more
Understanding Will Gift Types
Part of creating a will in North Carolina is deciding on the types of gifts you want to leave. Most people who create a will do not have a background in the law, and they simply want to leave gifts that they feel are fair and appropriate. There are different types of gifts that you can leave through your last will and testament. Choosing the right type of gift is important, especially … read more
Reviving a Will in Greensboro, North Carolina
Reviving a will in Greensboro, North Carolina is possible if you take the proper steps. When a person revives a will, that person takes an old will they had previously revoked and uses it as their current will. North Carolina law addresses what a person has to do to successfully do this. Here’s what you need to know about reviving a will in North Carolina. Reviving Portions of a Will … read more
The Will Caveat and Estate Litigation
One of the most common reasons people begin estate litigation in North Carolina is because they want to file a will caveat. The term “will caveat” simply means a challenge to the validity of a last will and testament filed with the probate court. (In North Carolina, the probate court is called the Clerk of the Superior Court.) Here’s what you need to know about will caveats in North … read more
Living Trusts and Pour-Over Wills in Greensboro NC
In estate planning circles, a pour-over will is a specific kind of will used primarily in conjunction with a revocable living trust. Pour-over wills are not necessarily different than other types of wills as far as the legal requirements involved. Instead, their difference comes in the terms you choose to include. Revocable living trusts and pour-over wills go hand-in-hand, and have … read more
On Using Electronic Wills in North Carolina
North Carolina estate planning attorneys tend to get a lot of questions about wills and how to use them. Even though wills are fairly basic legal documents, they play vital roles in any estate plan. Every competent adult needs to have a last will and testament made as soon as they turn 18. Yet, even though wills are important and every state has specific laws that cover them, these … read more
Practical Steps You Can Take When You Can’t Find the Will
When a family member dies, we all want to do everything we can to help make the grieving process as easy as possible. This is especially true if you know that the family member has left behind a last will and testament. Finding the will and making sure the family member’s last wishes are carried out is something many people see as a duty, as their obligation to do. But what happens if … read more
James Gandolfini Will Details Released
When actor James Gandolfini died in June at the age of 51, he left behind an estate estimated to be worth about $70 million. In early July, a representative of his estate submitted his will to a New York Surrogate’s Court. In that document, Gandolfini left the majority of his estate to his children: a 13-year-old son and an eight-month-old girl. Children cannot legally own property … read more
Estate Planning Errors Plague Even Celebrities
When people in Greensboro, North Carolina make a last will and testament as part of an estate plan, they typically do so after seeking the advice of an experienced estate planning attorney. It seems natural to consult a lawyer when you have questions about inheritances, but not everybody does this. In fact, even some of the most well-known celebrities can fail to find, or heed, qualified … read more