Probate is the state’s way of saying, “We’ll handle what you didn’t.” Harsh, but true. When a person dies without proper planning, their estate enters a public legal process that can last ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Matthew F. Erskine is a trusts and estates attorney. Probate is a term that often sends shivers down the spine of those unfamiliar ...

An estate represents a person's total property, including but not limited to real and personal property, owned or controlled by an individual at the time of their death. Probate is the legal process ...