does a will avoid probate court

Does a Will Avoid Probate?

Clients are often unpleasantly surprised to learn that having a Last Will and Testament does not negate the need for probate. And they are sometimes annoyed when they learn that even though they are named as the Executor in a Will, that alone does not give them authority to access the decedent’s assets. Yet both of these statements are true.

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inherited property

So You Inherited a Property. Now What?

Many families mistakenly believe that receiving an inherited property is as simple as listening to a reading of the Will and then that property magically belongs to you and you can do whatever you want with it. Sorry to burst that bubble, but a reading of the will is not a real thing – that’s…

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what is a non borrowing spouse of a Reverse Mortgage holder

What Is a Non-Borrowing Spouse of a Reverse Mortgage?

The federal government has expanded access to protections for the non-borrowing spouse of a reverse mortgage holder who is not named in the loan document, allowing more such spouses the ability to stay in their home if the borrowing spouse dies or moves to a care facility. Reverse Mortgage Protection Prior To 2014 A reverse…

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what is probate - ct probate for dummies

Connecticut Probate Process For Dummies

If you are like most people, just the word Probate sounds so menacing that it can make your head spin. What is probate? Do you always go through probate when someone dies? Which assets get probated and which ones don’t? Do I need a probate attorney? How much does it cost? How long will it…

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joint tenancy vs. tenants in common

Joint Tenancy Vs Tenants-In-Common

If you’ve never purchased a property, you may not know what I’m talking about. Both Joint Tenancy with right of survivorship and tenants-in-common dictate how a property is owned and who inherits it when one or more of the owners passes away. In Connecticut, tenancy in common is the default interest for a deed with…

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statutory power of attorney

Statutory Power of Attorney Issues With Self Dealing

Today’s video talks about the language of a statutory power of attorney document and the limitations it has when it comes “self dealing”. Essentially, your Power of attorney may not have the ability to transfer assets to themselves. This becomes a problem when you have a couple who are each other’s POAs. I hope this…

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