Free Estate Information Guide
Keep track of your estate assets for future generations. Get this instant downloadable PDF you can print and bind to use as a tool for your family’s legacy.
FREE ESTATE INFORMATION GUIDE
Keep track of your estate assets for future generations. Get this instant downloadable PDF you can print and bind to use as a tool for your family’s legacy. .
Temporary Guardianship: How Does it Work?
When individuals can no longer care for themselves, someone else can file a petition for guardianship. If necessary, the clerk of court will appoint a temporary guardian for the individual. A temporary guardianship only lasts until the clerk of court decides whether the individual needs a permanent guardian and appoints that person.
What is a Guardian Ad Litem?
If someone you love needs help to care for themselves, a court often must appoint a guardian. However, before the court can appoint a permanent guardian, it appoints a “guardian ad litem,” usually an attorney, to represent the interests of the individual. This guardian ad litem is responsible for investigating the general welfare and needs of the individual. The guardian ad litem also makes a recommendation to the court.
What is Probate Court?
Everyone over the age of 18 has an estate. Your estate is comprised of everything you own in addition to your minor children and pets. It’s crucial to make a plan for your estate before you die. Without a plan, your estate goes through a long court process known as probate. But what is probate court and how does it handle an estate?
What is a Small Estate Affidavit?
If a loved one passes away without owning many assets, you may want to settle the estate without going through the probate process. There are many good reasons to skip the probate line and move straight into settling an estate. In North Carolina, you will need to get a small estate affidavit. But what is a small estate affidavit, and what does it do for you as an heir?
How Long Does the Probate Process Take?
After a loved one dies, usually a probate court must settle the estate. While most people want the settlement process done ASAP, probate can take between 18 and 24 months. Sometimes probate can last three years or more. Time delays can create unnecessary stress for you and your family. Let’s take a look at why probate takes so long and how to speed the process along.
How Living Wills Differ from Advance Directives
None of us know what our future holds. If you end up in the hospital needing life-saving treatments, how will your loved ones know what to do? Advance Directives are legal documents that tell your family and friends what types of medical treatment you want if you can’t speak for yourself. But what is an advance directive vs. a living will? A living will is a particular type of advance directive that focuses on your medical choices if you are dying or permanently unconscious.
How to Avoid Probate
The good news is that with some legal help, you can altogether avoid probate for your family. The bad news is that if you don’t make a plan, your estate will go through probate and all of the associated costs when you pass away. Instead, learn how to avoid probate in all of its complexity and expense.
How to Fund a Trust
Today many people are using a revocable living trust as the foundation of their estate plan. However, they make a big mistake that sends their assets and loved ones right into the court system: they fail to fund their trust. But how do you fund your trust? Learn how to fund your trust so that it is a useful and helpful estate planning tool.
Do I Need a Will?
You may not feel old enough or rich enough to need a will, but the fact is that certain kinds of planning are still crucial for everyone over the age of 18. “Estate planning” is the legal name for the plans you need to make. A Will is a part of that planning. You do need a will, but you need more than that to protect yourself and your loved ones.
How To Get Guardianship Of A Parent
The majority of seniors do not have plans in place for their long-term care. Therefore, it is up to children or other relatives to make decisions about their financial, physical, and emotional well-being should they become unable to care for themselves. Once you learn the steps to getting guardianship of an adult parent, you can make decisions to help them live a full life and stay safe.
As North Carolina Attorneys, we serve people and businesses all over the State of North Carolina with assistance on a variety of legal issues.
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