Large estates will almost always have to go through probate as protection for the estate. Probate allows a judge to oversee the process of closing the estate and matters of the deceased. However, if you have a small or simple estate, then your family may be able to...
Firm News
Will I have a residuary estate after I die?
The main goal of your estate plan is to ensure that your intended beneficiaries will receive what you want them to inherit from your estate. However, it is possible that you will have assets that might not go to any beneficiary and will create a residuary estate. A...
Who handles my estate upon my death?
Once you die, everything you own has to transfer ownership, but you will not be here to oversee the process. So, who will handle your estate when you are gone? The North Carolina State Bar explains that you can choose the person to take care of things for you or the...
How does technology help long-distance co-parents?
Technology has come a long way in a short period. These days, it is hard to find anything that does not have some sort of technological augmentation or involves technology in some part of the process. How does it help long-distance co-parents, though? Can it help grow...
3 FAQs about changing child support amounts in North Carolina
If your divorce involved child support, the court may have based payments on a variety of factors. In North Carolina, the amount of child support payments may depend on both your and your ex-spouse’s ability to provide financial support as well as the needs of your...
A look at North Carolina’s so-called homewrecker law
When it comes to such issues as divorce and child custody, most states have similar laws on the books that seek to enforce fairness and equitable division of property. Sometimes, though, an individual state might not follow the pattern of most other states. Such a...
What should you consider for your advance care directive?
As you get older, you may expect health complications. An advance care directive prepares you and your loved ones for medical scenarios in which you cannot communicate. If you do not know what to think about while drafting the legal document, you could make mistakes....
What is marital property vs. separate property?
If you are going through a divorce or considering a legal separation, you may feel overwhelmed with the process. Dividing marital property may be one of the most stressful, as you may have grown attached to certain items throughout years of marriage. North Carolina is...
What happens if your spouse does not have a will?
Aside from the emotional burden of losing your spouse, his or her estate may be difficult to manage. This is especially the case if your spouse never made a will. Intestacy, or death without a will, must go to probate court. Any value that you shared with your spouse...
How should you approach estate planning?
Dealing with matters of the estate is rarely ever simple or easy. This is especially true when you approach estate planning, which is often complex, time-consuming and emotionally draining for everyone involved. One of the best ways to handle estate planning is...