Estate Planning

The answer depends on your assets, family situation, goals, and concerns. A will directs how your property will be distributed after your death and allows you to name an executor and, if applicable, guardians for minor children. A trust can, in some circumstances, help manage assets during your lifetime, provide for beneficiaries over time, and […]

If a North Carolina resident dies without a will, state intestacy laws determine who receives the person’s property, which may not align with what the person would have wanted. The distribution depends on whether there is a surviving spouse, children, parents, or other relatives, and the shares can be more complex than many people expect. […]

“Probate” generally refers to the court-supervised process of administering a person’s estate: identifying and valuing assets, paying valid debts and taxes, and distributing what remains to the proper beneficiaries or heirs. Many estates in North Carolina go through some form of probate, although there are simplified procedures for smaller estates and certain assets pass by […]