Q: My mother died in January 2023. My sister is the executor of her estate. When I enquire about what is going on with the probate, she gets hostile and says it's in probate court and she's waiting to ...

Being an executor of an estate isn't easy, so you should do what you can to help them out. It can be as easy as making a list and being smart about your email accounts.

The probate court oversees the executor's activities and handles issues that may arise. For instance, if the executor objects to a claim, the court will hear the evidence and make a ruling.

Living trusts generally allow a smoother, more organized settlement of the estate than other probate-avoidance options.

Leading estate planning and probate attorney Michael Smith founder of Smith Barid, LLC highlights the common pitfalls ...