Someone's estate plan can include a variety of different instructions and requests. There may be language designating certain people as the recipients for certain property and instructions about the care of dependent family members. Testators often invest a lot of...
Being named an estate's executor comes with different responsibilities, and one of them is handling the financial affairs of the testator (the person who made the will). You will deal with bills, debts, mortgages and so on, which can be complicated. But a few tips can...
The executor of the estate is the person who is selected to administer the testator’s financial affairs after their passing. While anyone above the legal age can become an executor, not everyone is fit to be an executor. However, it’s possible to learn how to be an...
An executor has many duties, including communicating with beneficiaries. An estate's beneficiaries have a right to information. So, what should you communicate to the beneficiaries of the estate you are overseeing? Here are three things to communicate: Inclusion in a...
A key step in the probate process is submitting the decedent's will to the court for approval. Until the judge accepts the will as valid, the process cannot move forward and the decedent's heirs and beneficiaries cannot receive their inheritances. Five will...
In South Carolina, a person closely related to a person who has died is their heir and gets their assets. The court will give the entire estate to the closest heirs if someone dies without a will, assuming that person or persons outlives them by at least 120 hours....
The condition of your estate in South Carolina after you pass will depend on several factors. One of them will be whether or not you are in debt. If you are, your estate may be subjected to a probate sale. This process entails the sale of assets to satisfy your...
In South Carolina, probate courts exist to ensure that the estate of someone who passes away settles its debts and taxes. Additionally, probate confirms that beneficiaries named in a will receive the assets or other property as dictated by the deceased. During the...
When a resident of South Carolina dies without a will, their estate goes through probate. The process can be tedious and drawn out, leaving the person’s loved ones waiting for their inheritance. There are ways to avoid the high costs of probate, however. Understanding...
Probate ensures that a decedent's assets are distributed to the right people. This process is generally required in South Carolina, but it isn't in every situation. A retirement account is generally exempt from having to pass through probate if the owner meets certain...