If you want certain assets to go to certain people in your life, you need a will or a trust. In the case of a home, it’s best to make sure your spouse’s name is on the deed if you want them to have ...

Intestacy laws step in immediately when someone dies without clear instructions. These laws, which vary by state, decide who gets what from bank accounts, property, and personal items. It can lead to ...

When you pass away, your mortgage doesn’t disappear, and the lender still needs to be repaid. If you inherit a property with a mortgage, you will be responsible for making payments on that loan, but a ...

If you pass away in Arkansas without leaving a valid will, you are considered to have died "intestate." In that case, Arkansas intestacy laws, not your personal wishes, control how your property is ...

If you have a joint checking account, the joint account holder typically takes over the account and has immediate access to the funds after providing proof of your death to the bank. If you have an ...

Our digital presences will outlive us all. How can we best manage files, social media accounts, and recordings of ourselves ...

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them. Just because two people are married and share a home does ...

Walking through what actually happens when someone dies without a will in Idaho — and why even modest estates benefit from ...

Jessica Gibson is a content update editor and writer for Investopedia. She has over 10 years of experience in digital publishing and three years of experience covering financial topics like insurance, ...