In Washington state, the probate process typically takes about six to nine months, but the length depends on the complexity of the estate and whether there are disputes among heirs. If you're ...

Many people create a revocable living trust for one major reason—avoiding probate. A trust can also provide privacy and smoother administration, but probate avoidance is usually at the top of the list ...

Probate refers to the legal process of settling the estate of a deceased person. This process can take anywhere from a few months to a couple of years, depending on several factors such as the size ...

Probate is a legal process that validates the will of a deceased person. It makes an inventory of assets, settles debts and distributes property under court supervision. Understanding how this process ...

Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia. Ebony Howard is a certified public accountant and a QuickBooks ProAdvisor tax expert. She ...

Christy Bieber has a JD from UCLA School of Law and began her career as a college instructor and textbook author. She has been writing full time for over a decade with a focus on making financial and ...

Always name a beneficiary for your accounts so that your heirs can skip the probate process Matt Webber is an experienced personal finance writer, researcher, and editor. He has published widely on ...