• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
    • Communities We Serve
      • Minnesota
        • Bemidji
        • Crookston
        • East Grand Forks
        • Fertile
        • Thief River Falls
      • North Dakota
        • Devils Lake
        • Dickinson
        • Grafton
        • Grand Forks
        • Minot
    • Job Opportunities
    • Speaker Connection
  • Estate Planning
    • Asset Protection
    • Business Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Services
    • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Financial Planning Assistance
    • Incapacity Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Pet Planning
    • Probate
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration
  • Elder Law
    • Are You A Caregiver
    • Conservatorship
    • Coping with Alzheimer’s
    • Hospice Care
    • Life Care Planning Services
    • Medicaid Benefits
    • Nursing Home Planning
    • Veterans Benefits
  • Seminars/Webinars
  • Resources
    • Client Resources
      • Estate Planning Resources for Farmers
      • Elder Law Resources
        • Bemidji
        • Grand Forks Elder Law
        • Minot Elder Law
        • Thief River Falls Elder Law
      • Estate Planning Checklist
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Probate Checklist
      • Probate Resources
        • Bemidji Probate
        • Grand Forks Probate
        • Minot Probate
        • Thief River Falls Probate
      • Relocation Toolkit
      • Top 10 Estate Planning Techniques
    • DocuBank
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Free Medicaid/Long-Term Care Calculator
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Asset Protection
        • Business Planning
        • Business Succession Planning
      • Elder Law
        • Medicaid Planning
        • Veteran’s Benefits
        • Nursing Home Planning
      • Estate Planning
        • Estate Planning & Divorce
        • Estate Planning for Women
        • Job of an Executor
        • Families Without an Estate Plan
        • Gift, Estate, and Inheritance Taxes
        • Including Philanthropy in Your Estate Plan
        • Including Your Pet in Your Estate Plan
        • LGBTQ Estate Planning
        • Power of Attorney
        • Serving as Executor
      • Financial Planning
      • Incapacity Planning
        • Social Security Benefits
        • Understanding SSI and SSDI
      • Trust Administration & Probate
        • Probate
        • Small Estate Probate
        • Trusts
        • Wills
    • Newsletters
    • Probate & Estate Planning Savings Calculator
    • Professional Resources
    • Published Books
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning for Niches
      • Trust Administration
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review us
  • Contact Us
  • Blog

GermanLawGroup

Estate Planning & Medicaid Attorneys in Grand Forks , North Dakota

Call us today(800) 774-7576

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
Attend A Free Seminar
Home » Learning To Understand the Language of Wills

Learning To Understand the Language of Wills

June 22, 2012Probate and Probate Avoidance, Wills

Taking the time to create a last Will and testament is a very simple step you can take to ensure your wishes are followed and your family is adequately cared for should the worst happen. Unfortunately, most people are not very familiar with the laws surrounding Wills, or some of the uncommon language encountered in the Will making process. Here is a brief list of some of the words you may come across while making your Will.

Probate. The word “probate” refers to the state laws and procedures that apply when a person dies. Specifically, probate is the legal process that some of your property must go through before new owners can take possession. Probate courts are those courts that only deal with probate matters, such as determining whether a Will is valid or who has the rights to inherit when someone dies without a Will.

Executor. After you die, someone will have to notify the probate court about your death and become responsible for managing your property until a court makes a decision about who should be the new owner. This person is called an executor. You usually name your choice of executor in your will, though a court can also appoint one if you don’t leave a Will. Executors are sometimes known as personal representatives or estate administrators.

Non-probate property. While probate laws determine what happens to some of your property, other property you leave behind does not have to go in front of a probate court before a new owner takes possession. For example, if you have a bank account with your spouse and each of you is a co-owner, your spouse can take possession of the money in the account immediately after you die. Because this property is not subject to probate court rules, it is called non-probate property or non-probate assets.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Raymond German, Estate Planning Attorney
Raymond German, Estate Planning Attorney
Attorney at German Law | Wealth
Raymond J. German provides a wide range of estate planning services to his clients, with a primary focus on creating peace of mind providing for the security of their loved ones, reducing taxes and avoiding a probate, all with a well-crafted estate plan. Mr. German defines the mission statement for German Law as “Helping one family at a time pass on values, beliefs and finances, that can be shared for generations to come.”
Raymond German, Estate Planning Attorney
Latest posts by Raymond German, Estate Planning Attorney (see all)
  • Estate Planning Steps for the Beginner - January 26, 2023
  • Common Medicaid Myths Debunked - January 19, 2023
  • Why Single Adults Need an Estate Plan - January 17, 2023

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Living Trusts and Probate
Living Trusts and Probate
Top 3 Reasons for Avoiding Probate
Top 3 Reasons for Avoiding Probate
German Law
Tips for Getting through the Probate Process
German Law
10 Things You Need to Know about Wills and Probate
German Law
Probate and the Uniform Probate Code
German Law
Why Would Someone Avoid Probate?

Primary Sidebar

TESTIMONIALS

Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

Needed to come in to get specific advice for our needs. The attorney spoke to us in terms we could understand, coming to our level and did not make up feel uncomfortable. They were very considerate and caring. We didn’t feel rushed. We felt like they cared and knew what they were doing.

C.P., Minnesota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

We were wonderfully satisfied. Wayne did an outstanding job of explaining, diagramming and answering questions and concerns.

JW & CD, North Dakota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

They were courteous, efficient, knowledgeable, and trustworthy.

D.T., Minnesota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

Very helpful. Our children and us are are confident in your group.

-Anonymous, Fargo, North Dakota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

"Very professional, covered all, expertise, friendly, peace of mind now."

- Anonymous, North Dakota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

So much of a client's high or low opinion of an organization depends on their welcomed feeling. I felt that every time I visited the office, every person I talked with listened and took action on my concern or questions! They were also very friendly.

~J.R., Grand Forks, ND
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

From phone calls to signing the final documents I was treated with respect, kindness, and understanding by Wayne & Jenn. Every business that wants their business represented well should have someone like Jenn & Wayne. They both made me feel relaxed and assured I was at the right place at the right time at this time in my life. 

~ Deborah Rucinksi, North Dakota 
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

All of the paperwork was completed in a timely matter. Wayne was very good in explaining the trust to us. 

~Anonymous
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

Thank you for taking care of my finances after I am gone. I worried about probate once; hopefully this has been solved. Everyone was very polite and helpful. Thank you Katie for answering my questions, and also Jenn.

- Anonymous
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

This Avvo rating is killer and so deserved! You are the best brother! The only thing is I think the 10 rating is too low, in my book you go to 11! Congratulations on the award, you should be very very proud. See you at your Holiday party, thx for the invite.

Anthony G., Los Angeles, CA
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

Everyone at German Law was helpful and pleasant. I felt good about my decision, I thought I was doing the right thing for myself & my family. Wayne took his time and didn't rush, which is good because a lot of this can be over people's heads.

A.W., Red Lake Falls, MN
Client Review
April 15, 2021
    

Excellent

Very interesting, informative and valuable information and ideas.

Valuable information.

RP
Client Review
April 15, 2021
    

5 STARS! Thanks for allowing this to be on a webinar! Very interested in this topic.

Great Estate Planning Guide

SD
November 25, 2022
    

John provided very short turn-around time that we needed. He built an amortization schedule that really met our needs. He was responsive and very easy to work with! Quick and easy!

 

Cammy was also very helpful and professional!

November 25, 2022
    

Really Liked it.
Assisted by John Oelke

November 25, 2022
    

Excellent!

<
>

Subscribe to Our Blog

Subscribe to our blog to get the latest estate planning news and updates!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

FREE ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHEET

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Where We Are

German Law
2650 32nd Avenue South, Suite O
Grand Forks, ND 58201
Phone: (701) 738-0060
Fax: (701) 738-0064

See Larger Map Get Directions

Office Hours

Monday8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 PM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Map

Footer

  • Speaker Connection
  • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
  • About The American Academy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Connect to Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
footer-logo

© 2023 German Law
All Right Reseved.

Attorney Advertisement