Estate administration in Alabama is the act of dissolving the estate of a person who has passed away. This person, who is called the decedent, may have had no intentions of having his or her belongings dissolved. When estate owners create a plan, it needs to include...
Estate Planning
The role of a trust in estate planning
Trusts are arrangements that allow a trustee to hold valuable assets on behalf of beneficiaries. There are several ways to arrange trusts that detail when and how the assets will be passed to the designated beneficiaries. If you're an Alabama resident and need to know...
Can you refuse to probate an estate?
Executors are the people who decide whether or not an Alabama estate gets probated or not. Most of the time, executors have a duty to probate an estate and help the process move as smoothly as possible. Probate isn’t a mandatory process, but might be a necessary...
Would TOD accounts avoid probate?
Estate planning often involves drawing up a will and other relevant documents. Some people may assume that all assets go through the Alabama probate court to distribute assets to beneficiaries. When one person owns an asset, probate becomes unavoidable. However,...
Why you may want to consider an irrevocable trust
More and more Alabama residents are learning about the benefits of crafting irrevocable trusts for their assets. While this term may at first seem very final, when one gets to understand the ins and outs of this type of trust, it becomes overly clear just how...
Three things that you shouldn’t add to your will
Drafting your will is one of the most important parts of the estate planning process. This document will determine how your assets are divided and disbursed after you pass away. Not only does it ensure that your wishes are followed, but it can also prevent a...
When’s the last time you looked at your estate plan?
As you enjoy your golden years in the relaxing state of Alabama, you should be thinking about your estate plans. By getting everything legally in order, you don't have to worry about what happens after your passing with all your assets. Here are some great tips to...
How to reduce the likelihood of a will contest
If you are creating a will in Alabama, you might be worried that your family will try to challenge it in some way. There are certain steps you can take to reduce the likelihood that this will happen. Clarity in your will One of the most important things you can do to...
Estate planning with difficult heirs
Planning out how your Alabama estate is going to be handled once you've passed on or you are incapacitated is one of the most important things you can do for your loved ones. However, even if all legal obstacles have been met, there are certain things that people may...
How to Share Your Estate Plan with Adult Children
An estate plan is an important document to create no matter where you live, including in Birmingham, Alabama. In many cases, the estate plan will include information about your beneficiaries and your will, which may include your adult children. It is important to...