Understanding the Probate Process in Fort Mill, SC

Fort Mill, SC – Navigating the probate process can be a daunting experience for families already dealing with the loss of a loved one. While probate serves an essential legal function by ensuring that a deceased person’s assets are distributed according to their wishes or state law, the process can be time-consuming and complex. Nosal […]

Estate Planning Pitfalls Fort Mill Families Should Avoid

Fort Mill, SC – Estate planning is a crucial yet frequently overlooked task that can have serious consequences for unprepared families. As Fort Mill experiences continued growth and an influx of new residents, Nosal & Jeter, LLP, a well-established legal firm in the region, highlights costly mistakes commonly made when individuals delay or avoid creating […]

Understanding Probate in North Carolina: Essentials for Surviving Spouses

Estate planning can feel overwhelming, especially when navigating complex estate laws in North Carolina, such as the Elective Share. Many spouses are surprised to learn that even if they’re left out of a will, state law may still entitle them to a portion of the estate. This legal safeguard is designed to protect surviving spouses’ […]

How to Choose the Right Executor for Your Estate

Introduction to the Role of an Executor Selecting the right executor for your estate is a critical decision in the estate planning process. This role, often underestimated in its complexity and importance, involves managing and executing your final wishes as outlined in your will and other estate planning documents. The executor’s responsibilities are multifaceted, requiring […]

The Importance of Estate Planning for Asset Protection

Introduction to Estate Planning and Asset Protection Estate planning is a multifaceted process that involves more than just deciding how to distribute your assets after your death. A crucial aspect of this process is asset protection, which focuses on safeguarding your wealth from potential legal and financial threats during your lifetime. This article offers an […]

Omitted Spouse

While the South Carolina elective share provides the surviving spouse the right to claim 1/3 of the deceased’s spouse’s probate estate, an additional statute in the South Carolina Probate Code provides additional protections for a surviving spouse when the deceased spouse executed a Will prior to their marriage but, for whatever reason, did not update […]

Confusing Legal Titles in Estate Administration

In North Carolina, the statutory legal process of settling the estate of a deceased person uses a variety of legal terms to identify the person in charge of administering the estate and the authority granted to that individual.  The terms  “Collector,” “Executor,” “Administrator,” and “Personal Representative” all describe the person in charge of settling an […]

Will Contests: Capacity and Undue Influence

Many will disputes deal with the issue of testamentary capacity. In other words, the person whose will is being executed must be aware of what is going on for the will to be valid, i.e., the testator must have a lucid interval.  A will can also be challenged by arguing that the will was procured […]

Intestate Succession South Carolina

To die “intestate” in South Carolina means to die without a valid will or assets not effectively disposed of by your Will. In South Carolina, the only assets that are affected by intestacy succession laws are those assets that would have passed through your will had you created one. Intestacy laws therefore do not apply […]

Why Estate Planning is a Must if You Are Single

There are more singles today than ever before. In America today, the divorce rate is 50 percent for first marriages and even higher for second and third marriages. In 1970, about one-third of Americans 15 and older were single. Today, the number is closer to 50 percent. This means that single people need to be […]