| Wills - The Writing Requirement |
| A written will is obviously required to be in writing. What the writing requirement really means is that the medium a will is written in must be sufficiently permanent. The medium must be permanent enough to provide a reliable record of the testator's testamentary desires for the probate court.More... |
| Will Contests -- Fraud, Mistake, Revocation |
| Fraud will occur when the testator makes or signs a will as the result of having been willfully deceived as to the nature or the contents of his will or as to some facts that bear upon the disposition of his property. Mistake is the same, but without the willful deceit by a third person. More... |
| Disposing Dead Bodies |
| The dead bodies of human beings are not property. The dead bodies of human beings are not disposed of by a state's statute of descent and distribution. If a person does not leave directions in a will or other document for the disposition of his or her dead body, his or her dead body is usually disposed of as provided by local custom. More... |
| The Natural Objects of One's Bounty - II |
| This article is the second part of a three-part series describing the traditional names for the various members of one's family.More... |
| Executors -- Steps Prior to Opening the Estate |
| The terms "executor," "administrator," and " personal representative" are all synonyms for someone who is legally responsible for managing the estate of a person who has died. The position of executor may be filled by a specific person named in the decedent's will or, if the decedent did not make a will, by someone whose relationship with the decedent makes him the legally responsible party (i.e., parent or spouse). The position can be refused.More... |

