Alaska: Joint Bank Accounts and Jointly Owned Property When Someone Dies Without a Will
Short answer Ownership after a person dies without a will in Alaska depends on how each asset is titled. Accounts and property titled with rights of survivorship or as payable-on-death usually pass directly to the surviving co-owner or named payee. Assets titled in the deceased’s sole name (or in tenancy in common) generally pass under […]
Read article →How to Determine Which Debts Must Be Paid Before an Estate Is Distributed — Alaska
Determining Which Debts and Claims Must Be Paid Before an Alaska Estate Is Distributed Disclaimer: This is general information, not legal advice. Consult a licensed Alaska attorney about your specific situation. Detailed Answer If you are involved with an estate in Alaska and want to know which debts or claims must be paid before assets […]
Read article →Alaska — Tracking and Reimbursing Estate Property Maintenance Expenses
Detailed Answer This answer explains what kinds of expenses a personal representative (executor or administrator) can track and seek reimbursement for from an estate in Alaska while estate property is being maintained and prepared for sale. This is an educational summary only and is not legal advice. For statute text and broader probate rules, see […]
Read article →How to Be Appointed Estate Administrator or Co-Administrator in Alaska
Frequently Asked Question: How do I get appointed as an estate administrator or co-administrator in Alaska? Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, consult a licensed Alaska attorney. Detailed answer — step‑by‑step process under Alaska law Confirm whether probate is required. Not every […]
Read article →Alaska: Using Wills and Beneficiary Designations to Avoid Probate
How to pass assets without probate in Alaska: wills vs beneficiary designations Short answer In Alaska, a will alone does not by itself avoid probate. A will controls how probate distributes assets that are part of your probate estate. To have property pass outside probate, you must use nonprobate tools: beneficiary designations (retirement accounts, life […]
Read article →How to Buy Out Siblings’ Interests in a Family Property — Alaska Guide
How to Buy Out Siblings’ Interests in a Family Property — Alaska Guide This FAQ-style article explains practical steps you can take under Alaska law when you want to keep a family property and buy out your siblings’ shares instead of selling. This is educational information only and not legal advice. Detailed answer — how […]
Read article →Alaska: Recovering Money an Heir Withdrew from a Deceased Parent’s Accounts
What an estate can do after an heir withdraws money from a deceased parent’s accounts Short answer: If the money belonged to the decedent’s estate (not a survivorship or payable-on-death account), the estate’s personal representative can usually try to recover funds taken without authority through a demand, civil suit (conversion, unjust enrichment, accounting), and sometimes […]
Read article →Alaska: How to Buy Out Siblings’ Shares in a Parent’s Home Instead of Selling Through Probate
Detailed Answer This article explains, in plain language, the common steps to buy out your siblings’ shares in a parent’s house under Alaska law. It assumes you start with no legal background. This is general information only and not legal advice. Key concept: Which law controls? Property disputes are normally governed by the law where […]
Read article →Filing Partition or Petition to Sell Inherited Real Estate in Alaska When Heirs Are Minors
Detailed Answer When co-owners inherit real estate and some heirs are minors, Alaska law allows a court to divide the property (partition) or order a sale with proceeds distributed to the owners. The exact procedure depends on how title is held (probate vs. non-probate ownership), whether an estate or personal representative is already handling the […]
Read article →Alaska — Appointing a Guardian ad Litem for Minor Heirs Before Selling Inherited Land
Detailed Answer Short answer: Yes — in Alaska you can ask the court to appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) to represent minor heirs' interests in a court proceeding to sell inherited land. Whether the court will appoint a GAL, and whether a GAL is the right protection, depends on how the property is owned, […]
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