Estate, Probate & Elder Law
Browse published legal information questions related to Estate, Probate & Elder Law.
Can I Protect My Interest in My Father’s House if There Was No Will in Illinois?
If your father died in Illinois without a will, his property is usually handled under Illinois intestacy law. That means the house may pass according to state law rather than according to informal family expectations or...
How do I revoke a prenuptial agreement after we are married?
In general, a prenuptial agreement does not have to last forever. After marriage, spouses may sometimes revoke or replace it if both agree and the change is made in a legally proper way. In Vermont, the specific rules ca...
The florist delivered the wrong flowers for a funeral. Can we ask for more than a refund?
In Pennsylvania, a wrong flower delivery for a funeral may be more than a simple customer-service problem, but the available remedies usually depend on the facts. In general, if a florist delivered the wrong arrangement,...
What are my rights if the at-fault driver died in the accident?
If the at-fault driver died in the crash, you may still have rights to seek compensation for your injuries and other losses. In general, a driver’s death does not automatically erase a claim for a collision caused by tha...
Do I have to split my Social Security benefits in divorce?
In general, Social Security benefits are not divided like marital property in a divorce. That means a divorce court usually does not split one spouse’s future Social Security retirement, disability, or survivor benefits...
What are my rights if my retirement plan account was transferred to the state as abandoned?
In Maryland, if a retirement plan account is treated as abandoned and transferred to the state, you usually do not lose ownership of the money simply because it was turned over. In general, the state holds abandoned prop...
How do I protect an inheritance I expect to receive after marriage?
In Massachusetts, people often ask how to keep an expected inheritance separate after they get married. In general, an inheritance may be treated differently from marital property, but the outcome can depend on how the m...
How do I handle divorce when we have frozen embryos from fertility treatment?
When a couple divorces and has frozen embryos from fertility treatment, the legal questions can be different from the usual property or custody issues. In general, courts look first for any signed agreement about what sh...
Can I qualify for forgiveness if I work at a nonprofit nursing home?
In general, maybe—but it depends on what kind of forgiveness program you mean and how the employer is classified under the program’s rules. A nonprofit nursing home may sound like the kind of job that should count, but m...
Can I Dispute a Vet Bill After My Pet Died During Treatment?
In general, you may be able to dispute a veterinary bill after a pet dies during treatment, but the strength of any dispute usually depends on what happened, what was promised, what records show, and what the bill includ...
Can I Still Receive an Inheritance if My Name Has Changed?
In general, a name change does not by itself stop you from receiving an inheritance. If you are the person named in a will, trust, beneficiary designation, or intestacy paperwork, the estate or financial institution usua...
What happens if my spouse bought a car during the marriage but titled it only in their name?
In Louisiana, a car bought during a marriage may still be treated as part of the marital property picture even if the title lists only one spouse’s name. Title alone does not always control ownership questions, especiall...
How Do I Reopen an Abuse Case Previously Closed for Lack of Evidence?
In Kansas, a closed abuse case is sometimes reviewed again if new information comes to light, but reopening is usually not automatic. Whether a case can be reopened often depends on why it was closed, what type of case i...
Does My Aunt’s Husband Automatically Inherit Her Share of Michigan Property?
In Michigan, an aunt’s husband does not automatically inherit her share of property in every situation. Whether he receives anything usually depends on how the property was titled, whether there was a will or trust, and...
Can I Throw Away My Father’s Property After He Left It at My House?
In general, you should be careful before throwing away property that belongs to your father, even if he left it at your house. Simply leaving belongings behind does not always mean the owner has given up all rights to th...