More Articles by Mary Randolph

Sometimes executors are able to wrap up an estate themselves, without hiring a probate lawyer.

A big part of the executor's job is to settle the debts of the estate. Here's an overview on what you'll need to do.

The trustee can terminate a living trust in just a few months. Here's what is involved in the process.

If there's a will, you can't start a probate case until you file it with the court.

It isn't usually hard to tell whether or not a will meets your state's legal requirements for validity. Here's what to look for.

Spouses get more options than other beneficiaries, and may be able to put off taxes on retirement account funds for longer.

If you’re appointed executor, how do you keep estate property safe and secure? If there’s a home, for instance, what do you do with it?

How do you use a deed to transfer real estate held by a trust? What are the tax and mortgage implications?

To collect the deceased person's cash assets and to have a way to pay the bills, you'll need a bank account for estate funds. Here's how it works.

The will may provide instructions for what happens if a beneficiary predeceases the will-maker, but if it doesn't, state law determines who inherits.

Mary Randolph