Post-DOMA Planning: How the Supreme Court’s DOMA Decision Will Affect Estate and Income Tax Planning for Same-Sex Couples In a landmark decision yesterday in the case of United States v. Windsor (http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/12-307_g2bh.pdf), the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). DOMA is a U.S. federal law that barred federal recognition of same-sex marriage, thereby […]
Most people have very little involvement with probate procedures, wills or the distribution of estate assets. Although they may have received an inheritance, few actually get involved on a detailed level. So when it comes time to consider their own estate and will needs or are named as an executor of an estate, a lot […]
In probate proceedings, the Final Account, which is also called the Administration Account in Connecticut, is the statement filed with probate court that shows the final disposition of an estate’s assets after all debts, taxes and expenses relating to the estate have been paid but before assets are distributed to beneficiaries. The final account is filed […]
When a person passes away and leaves an inheritance behind for loved ones, it’s natural for the person’s heirs and beneficiaries to want to know what they have been left. It’s also natural for these individuals to want to make sure the estate is being handled well or that they are receiving their rightful share. […]
One of the questions I commonly get when helping a client with their will is whether they can or should name more than one executor to their estate in Connecticut. There are many reasons a person may consider naming more than one executor and the answer to the question depends on the circumstances. Most often this question […]
While there some similarities between a trustee and an executor, the chief of which is that they both handle matters of an estate after a person dies, there are significant differences. If you are planning for the future of your estate or you’re being asked to handle an estate after a loved one’s passing, it’s important to understand the […]
Someone close to you has just passed away and you’ve been named as executor of their estate and must see to the distribution of estate assets in the process known as probate. You know that this is an honor and an important assignment, but what, exactly, do you need to do and where do you begin? The […]
Probate Lawyers in ConnecticutThere are many good reasons for wanting to keep your estate out of probate. Settling ones final affairs through Probate can be more expensive compared to other options. One of the biggest objections to using probate is that everything in probate is a public record, and in probate a will or the executor […]
Wills are made to ensure that the property and money you’ve accumulated over the years goes to the people you want to receive it and not to anyone you don’t want to receive it. But if your will is not valid when it is entered into probate, there’s no guarantee that your estate will pass to your […]
When an individual dies in Connecticut, that person’s estate must go through probate if he or she has a will or through estate administration if there is no will or the will is invalid. Essentially, the two processes are the same except that in probate the estate’s assets are distributed according to the decedent’s will […]