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how death works legally.
Start with the court process, the documents that still matter at death, and the state rules that decide what happens when no valid plan controls an asset.
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Understand probate from beginning to end
Learn what probate is, which assets may enter the process, what the court does, and why the timeline varies.
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Resources for this exact question
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See what happens without a will
Intestacy laws determine who inherits probate assets when a person dies without a valid will.
Understand intestacyKnow what a probate attorney costs, and when you need one
Hourly, flat fee, or a statutory percentage of the estate, with the situations where skipping the lawyer is safe.
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Probate, wills, advance directives, and disposition rules depend on the jurisdiction.
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