Portrait of Young Man Looking Perplexed If your mother recently passed away, you are undoubtedly still dealing with your grief and the other strong emotions that come with the loss of a parent. If you also learned that your mother appointed you to be the Executor of her estate, you may be unsure what that job entails. Do you need an attorney to help you? To help you figure that out, the Woburn probate attorneys at DeBruyckere Law Offices help you decide if you need an attorney to help you … [Read more...] about Do I Need an Attorney to Help Me Probate My Mother’s Estate?

There is a very good chance that you will find yourself involved in the probate of an estate at some time during your life. Whether that involves comes as a result of your appointment as the Executor of an estate or because you are a beneficiary/heir, you probably want to know how long it will take for the estate to get through probate. Although every estate is unique, the North Andover probate attorneys at DeBruyckere Law Offices explain how long the Massachusetts probate process typically … [Read more...] about How Long Is the Probate Process in Massachusetts?

If your father recently passed away, you are undoubtedly still grieving his loss. Although it is difficult to do, there are practical and legal steps that must be taken as a result of your father’s death. Among the most important of those is to initiate the probate of his estate. If you will be responsible for overseeing the probate process, you may be wondering if you need an attorney to help you. A Beverly area probate attorney at DeBruyckere Law Offices helps you decide if you need an … [Read more...] about Do I Need an Attorney to Help Me Probate My Father’s Estate?

A comprehensive estate plan can accomplish a wide range of inter-related goals. Making sure that loved ones are protected and financially secure after you are gone may be one of your estate planning goals. If so, you may also want to include probate avoidance as a goal to ensure that you loved ones actually receive the assets you left them in a timely manner. To help you get started, the probate attorneys at DeBruyckere Law Offices offer some tips for avoiding probate. Why Is Avoiding Probate … [Read more...] about Tips for Avoiding Probate

If you recently lost a loved one and learned that you were named by the decedent to be the Executor of the estate, you are probably feeling a bit overwhelmed.  Even with the best of intentions, mistakes can occur – especially if this is the first time you have served as an Executor.  The Beverly probate attorneys at DeBruyckere Law Offices want to help you by discussing the top five probate mistakes you want to avoid making. What Is Probate? Before focusing on common mistakes, it … [Read more...] about Top 5 Probate Mistakes to Avoid

The loss of a loved one is difficult to accept under the best of circumstances. It is ever more difficult to accept, however, when you have reason to believe that the Last Will and Testament submitted for probate is not valid. One of the most frequently used grounds in a Will contest is to claim that the Testator  lacked the requisite “testamentary capacity.” What exactly is testamentary capacity and how do you prove that the Testator lacked the necessary capacity to execute his/her Will … [Read more...] about Proving Lack of Testamentary Capacity in a Will Contest

The time period following the loss of a loved one can be very stressful and confusing. Trying to figure out the practical steps that need to be taken in the midst of the grief you are experiencing can be overwhelming.  If you were entrusted with an original, signed copy of the decedent’s Last Will and Testament you undoubtedly realize you are supposed to do something with the Will, but you may not know exactly what that is.  The New Hampshire probate attorneys at DeBruyckere Law … [Read more...] about What Should I Do with the Will When I Find It?

When a loved one passes away, there are a multitude of practical and legal concerns that must be addressed despite that fact that you are grieving the loss. Among the most important of those concerns is the need to administer the estate and distribute the assets of the decedent. Often, that requires the estate to go through the lengthy and costly process of formal probate. If the decedent did not own any real property, however, you may be wondering if probate is still necessary.  Because … [Read more...] about Is Probate Necessary in New Hampshire If There Is No Property?

Creating a successful estate plan requires you to consider a wide range of factors that may impact you, your assets, and/or your plan at some point over the course of your lifetime. One of the most important of those factors is taxes. In fact, failing to consider the impact that gift and estate taxes may have on your estate plan can be a fatal flaw. Given the highly individualistic nature of estate planning, you will need to consult with an experienced estate planning attorney to determine … [Read more...] about Beverly Estate Planning Attorneys Explain Gift and Estate Taxes

Probate is one of those things that you have probably heard of, but know very little about unless you have been through the probate of an estate at some point during your lifetime. Everyone, however, should have at least a basic understanding of the probate process for their own estate planning purposes. Because the primary purpose of probate is to distribute your estate assets after your death, you should understand the relationship between probate and property. To help you, consider the … [Read more...] about 5 Things You Need to Know about Probate and Property