I'm receiving a sizable inheritance in the form of stock from a deceased relative. However, there's fairly good evidence that the person who's managed the relative's affairs all these years (due to this relative being incapable of managing their own affairs) has intentionally sold a vast majority of that stock because they didn't want to draw down their own inheritance. If I contest this, though, there's a clause in the will that cuts my inheritance to $1. Do I take the stock that's offered me, or should I risk it on recovering the rest? [more inside]
posted on Mar 16, 2008 - 37 answers

Someone died. Does her family have to keep paying the mortgage payments? Does interest keep accruing? Can they rent it out during this period? There was no will. (This is in California.) [more inside]
posted on Jul 22, 2007 - 9 answers

A friend has been contacted by a private investigator who represents a "successional" or "probate" genealogist in Europe. I was very suspicious, perhaps because of the amount of entertaining Nigerian spam I've received, but at first glance things seem relatively legitimate. Is this a common thing, and what steps do one take to deal with it? [more inside]
posted on Mar 22, 2007 - 5 answers

I need advice on how to select a competent, reasonably-priced estate attorney knowledgeable in Maryland probate law. Ancillary question: how important is it that he or she be a member of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel [more inside]
posted on Apr 11, 2005 - 1 answers