probate - executors and trustees

Attorney Fees in Probate, and Estate of Weeks

Joel A. Schoenmeyer
June 20, 2011 14:37

"How much does probate cost?" That question is hard to answer. More and more attorneys charge a fixed fee for work they perform, but you can really only do that if you know how long the work will take. For instance, I charge a fixed fee for estate planning -- because I have been practicing for...

Thoughts on Choosing a Trustee

Joel A. Schoenmeyer
April 12, 2011 15:21

Let's say that you are married, and have two young children. And you've decided to set up a living trust, for a number of good reasons: it's private, it will help you avoid probate (if it's funded correctly), and it's a great way to control when your children receive their inheritance. One of the...

Who's The Boss? The Fiduciary-Beneficiary Relationship

Joel A. Schoenmeyer
August 24, 2010 17:41

If you grew up in the 1980's like I did, you know that the question "Who's The Boss?" has a few possible answers: Angela, Tony, or maybe Mona. But on a more serious note, the question of "Who's the boss?"...If you grew up in the 1980's like I did, you know that the question "Who's The Boss?" has a...

Who's The Boss? The Fiduciary-Beneficiary Relationship

Joel A. Schoenmeyer
August 24, 2010 17:25

If you grew up in the 1980's like I did, you know that the question "Who's The Boss?" has a few possible answers: Angela, Tony, or maybe Mona. But on a more serious note, the question of "Who's the boss?" in a probate or trust context is more difficult to answer. On the one hand, you have the...

Tough Times and Probate

Joel A. Schoenmeyer
February 11, 2009 16:15

This is a Canadian article, but it applies the same here in the US -- "Tough times making even probate practice riskier." The main thing I've seen is more financial stress on the heirs. Most of them didn't expect a...This is a Canadian article, but it applies the same here in the US -- "Tough times...