When an independent executor needs to resign from estate administration, the process can become unexpectedly complicated if family members disagree about who should serve as the replacement. The named executor might assume that the primary beneficiary under the will has the authority to seek appointment as successor. However, surviving spouses who received no specific bequests...KEEP READING

When a parent dies, adult children sometimes discover multiple wills with conflicting provisions. The older will might favor one family member while a newer document distributes assets differently. Faced with potential family conflict and the emotional burden of legal proceedings, children may agree among themselves not to probate the later will to avoid upsetting other...KEEP READING

Family disputes over estate assets often intensify when venue becomes contested territory. A deceased person’s mother might file probate proceedings in one county while adult children argue the case belongs elsewhere. The stakes can be substantial because venue determines not only which court will oversee the estate but also which community’s laws and procedures will...KEEP READING

When families blend through remarriage, the distribution of a deceased parent’s assets can become a source of tension between children from different marriages. The surviving spouse and children from the second marriage may receive the bulk of the estate, while older children from previous relationships find themselves with limited inheritance rights. These situations become even...KEEP READING