Even without family, there are steps you can take to get your affairs and end-of-life plans in order. Even if you have no family and wish to donate your organs or body, you can fill out the necessary paperwork to ensure that. The court issues to this personal representative documents, or letters testamentary, which grant the authority to act on behalf of the estate, including gathering assets, paying last debts and expenses, and distributing the remainder of your estate to the beneficiaries. What assets need to be listed for probate? Estate administration is the court procedure around opening an estate for an individual that does not have a will. If you die without a valid will, you'll lose control over what happens to your assets after your death. The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of ourcontributing authors. Only the courts can bestow guardianship and conservatorship. LinkedIn. 16K views, 545 likes, 471 loves, 3K comments, 251 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from EWTN: Starting at 8 a.m. Who is deemed next of kin can depend on the state where the deceased person lived and died, but in most cases, a spouse would be first in line, with children of the deceased person being first in line if there was no spouse. If youre already without family, well walk you through the steps to get your affairs in order. In that situation, the judge will gather as much information as possible about the children, their family circumstances, and the deceased parents' wishes, and try to make a good decision. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. There are instances, however, where the surviving spouse, or another heir, may be legally responsible. You're required to let everyone know you're petitioning for probate. Think about the important people in your life, including close friends, church, neighbors, etc. Understanding these laws can help you decide if you feel it is necessary to make a will. Cake offers its users do-it-yourself online forms to complete their own wills and
In most states, the first to inherit is a surviving spouse, then children, then parents, then siblings, then aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, then cousins.