Category Archives: Probate
How Do You Start The Probate Process In Massachusetts?
The Massachusetts Court System explains that probate is a process through which a deceased person’s estate is finalized and their assets are distributed to the appropriate heirs. Probate does not start automatically in Massachusetts, you have to petition the court and file the Last Will and Testament. At Fisher Law LLC, we have extensive… Read More »
Can An Estate Skip Probate In Massachusetts?
The Massachusetts Court System explains that probate is “the process of transferring property and ownership after someone has died.” Unfortunately, probate can sometimes be a slow, frustrating process. This raises an important question: Can you skip probate in Massachusetts? The short answer is “it depends”—some estates in the Commonwealth can bypass formal probate. Within… Read More »
How Long Does Probate Typically Take In Massachusetts?
Estate administration is a process through which a deceased person’s legal/financial affairs are wrapped up and their estate is settled, so that property and assets can be distributed to the proper parties. You may be wondering: How long does estate administration take in Massachusetts? The answer depends on several case specific factors. In this… Read More »
Four Mistakes To Avoid When Dealing With Creditors In Probate In Massachusetts
Debt is a huge concern for many people and families. According to the most recent data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Americans have a collective $17 trillion of consumer debt. Dealing with debt (creditor claims) is often a key part of the probate process. Too many people make avoidable errors when… Read More »
Can An Unmarried Partner Claim Assets Through Intestate Succession Massachusetts?
When a person dies in the Commonwealth, their estate will need to be settled so that their property and assets can go to the appropriate heirs. This generally happens through a process called probate. Probate is simply the court supervised process for the transferring property ownership after someone has died. During probate, a person’s… Read More »
Probate In Massachusetts: What To Know About Creditor Notification Requirements
When a person passes away in Massachusetts, their estate must be administered wherein creditors claims are satisfied, taxes (if any) and expenses paid, and then remaining assets distributed. The estate administration process, which may involve filing the decedent’s Last Will and Testament for probate, has many steps. In this article, our Norwood probate lawyers… Read More »
Probate In Massachusetts: What Is A Voluntary Administration?
When a person passes away in Massachusetts, their estate must be settled before their property and assets can be passed down to their beneficiaries. An estate is resolved through the probate process. If you have heard anything about probate, you are probably aware that its reputation is that it can be a time-consuming, complicated,… Read More »
My Close Loved One Passed Away Without A Will In Massachusetts—What Happens Now?
Did your family member or close loved one pass away without a will? It is an issue that many Massachusetts families have gone through. The AARP reports that 6 in 10 U.S. adults lack a will. You may be wondering: What happens to the estate of a person who dies with no will? The… Read More »
Handling Creditors In Probate
One of the biggest issues that must be handled during the Massachusetts probate process is managing creditor claims. This can be an overwhelming process on your own, especially if you have little experience as the administrator of an estate, which is where hiring a knowledgeable probate attorney can be incredibly beneficial. At Fisher Law,… Read More »
Estate Planning Lessons from Celebrity Nightmares
The dispute over Larry King’s estate shines a harsh spotlight on what happens when an elderly person makes major changes late in life to his or her estate plan, especially when the person has become physically weakened and possibly mentally affected, due to aging and illness. A recent article from The National Law Journal,… Read More »