estate settlement
Dividing deceased's assets
Estate settlement is the legal and administrative process of wrapping up a deceased person's affairs—paying debts, filing final taxes, and distributing assets to heirs.
The process typically involves probate court and can take months or years depending on the estate's complexity: The estate settlement dragged on for two years because siblings contested the will.
- probate processCourt-supervised inheritance procedure
- executorAppointed estate manager
- probate lawRules for distributing inheritances
- inheritance lawRules for passing estates
- probate courtForum for inheritance disputes
real property · personal effects · heir · rightful heir · letters testamentary · codicil · surety bond · administrator · will · family dynamics · next of kin · conflict resolution · debts · legal fees · deed · liquidation · settling accounts · distribution