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 ...

Living trusts can help avoid probate and simplify estate planning. Here’s how they work, their limits and who may benefit most.

If you ask most people what they want out of an estate plan, the answer is usually: “Make the process easy on my family and ...

One of the most effective tools in the estate planning process is a trust, which can offer significant advantages-including the ability to bypass the often lengthy and costly probate process. Trusts, ...

Can probate delays be avoided? Personal representatives, such as executors and administrators, play a key role in avoiding probate delays. These people are responsible for managing the estate, which ...

When you die, estate planners say, one of the finest gifts you can leave your heirs is a plan for avoiding probate. Probate is a legal process that distributes a dead person’s assets and settles their ...

One of the biggest mistakes people make with estate planning is to assume that estate planning means getting a document. Whether it is a will, a revocable trust, living trust, or any other document, a ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Probate is a largely misunderstood but generally feared concept. Over half of the respondents to a recent study said that they ...

We constantly hear from advisors that we should plan our affairs in such a way as to avoid probate. What does the phrase mean and what property is subject to the probate process? What planning is ...

Why a living trust isn't the answer for all your assets.

Understanding the difference can help you make a smarter decision for your family — and avoid some costly surprises down the ...