Mary Randolph earned her law degree from the UC Berkeley School of Law. She is the author of The Executor's Guide: Settling a Loved One's Estate or Trust, 8 Ways to Avoid Probate, and other books about law for nonlawyers. She has been a guest on The Today Show and has been interviewed by many publications, including the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and more.
Articles by Mary Randolph
Using a Video for a Last Will & Testament?
Video recordings, by themselves, are not valid wills. But they can have other uses.
Can the Executor of a Will Be Removed?
Can you "fire" the executor? A court can always remove an executor who is dishonest or seriously incompetent.
How Do I Close My Deceased Parents' Checking Account?
Here's how adult children can legally claim and close a deceased parent's checking account without a will and without waiting on a lengthy probate case.
Payment for Serving as Trustee
Being a trustee can involve a lot of work. Depending on the type of trust—living trust vs. long-term trust—there may be ongoing responsibility, so compensation is usually part of the deal.
Capital Gains Tax on Inherited Assets
Will you owe capital gains tax when you sell assets you've inherited? It depends.
Claiming Money From a Payable-on-Death Bank Account
When the owner of a payable-on-death account dies, the POD beneficiary can simply claim the money from the bank.
Do I Receive Payment for Serving as Executor?
Being a conscientious executor takes a lot of time and effort. Should you get paid for taking on the job? State law typically provides for payment of the executor.
Estimating the Value of Inherited Real Estate
When passing along real estate, the executor must value the property appropriately.
Handling Bank Account Funds in an Estate
What happens to cash accounts that belonged to the deceased person? It depends on how the accounts were held.
How to Transfer U.S. Savings Bonds After Death
U.S. savings bonds are still popular, and are usually easy to transfer to the beneficiary after the original owner dies.