Estates, Executors & Probate Court

Depending on your state's law, your inheritors may be able to skip regular probate.

The value of an estate that qualifies for the "small estate" probate shortcut in California changes every three years.

My fiancé passed away last year. Our deed lists us as "joint tenants with rights of survivorship." To settle his estate, his family wants to pay off his half of the mortgage owed on the property. Does this mean that his beneficiaries would then automatically own his half of the property?

I have a 401(k) plan that's worth about $50,000. Will my beneficiaries have to pay taxes or penalties if they withdraw this money when they inherit it after my death? Can they roll it over into another tax-deferred plan?

My father died a few years ago, and I'm pretty sure he had a will. Is there a way to find out, and if he did, whether or not I am mentioned in it?

A thorough guide to settling a loved one's estate, whether you're handling it alone or working with a lawyer.

Everything you need (including court forms) to take an estate, big or small, through California probate court.

A must-have resource for anyone serving as a successor trustee.

The executor of an estate has an important job—protecting a deceased person's property, winding up their financial affairs, and distributing inheritances.

Are you qualified to be an executor and do you want to do the job?

If you're the executor of an estate, here's what you'll need to do.

You've heard that you should avoid probate—but why? Here are the basics.

If an estate is small enough, under state law, then inheritors won't have to go to probate court at all.

It's rare, but courts can toss out a will if it doesn't meet certain requirements.