FAN LAW OFFICE

If you own real estate in more than one state, you may be setting your family up for a legal and financial ordeal — even if you have a will. Here's why: a will is admitted to probate in the state where you were domiciled at death. But real estate in another state is subject to that state's laws — and must go through a separate probate proceeding called ancillary probate. Own property in three states? Your family may face three simultaneous probates, each in a different court,

Buying your first home is one of the most significant financial decisions of your life. It's also one of the most significant estate planning triggers — and most first-time buyers don't realize it until much later. The moment you sign the closing documents, you own a substantial asset. Without an estate plan, the question of what happens to that asset if something happens to you is answered entirely by state law — not by you. Here are three steps to take right away: Step 1: