Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Bob Carlson researches all facets of retirement finances. About 70% of U.S. adults don’t have a will or trust, according to ...

Paperwork has a quiet way of taking over grief. After a loved one passes, families often expect the legal side to be simple, orderly, and short. Instead, probate steps in with rules, deadlines, and ...

When someone passes away without a will in our city, what happens next can be quite confusing, costly, and deeply personal. You might assume things fall into place, but state law takes over–fast. If ...

Applying for probate is a difficult business. When someone dies, the executors (those people nominated by the deceased to manage their will) need to apply for a grant of probate, which allows them ...

Q: I am retired and unmarried, and I have three children who live in other states. They don't get along very well. I'm trying to avoid probate when I die so that there will be nothing my children need ...