 TITLE: What to Do When You Inherit a House CONTENT: Prepare Your Family for the Future With Estate Planning\n-------------------------------------------------------\nInheriting a house is complex. In addition to the practical issues outlined above, there may be emotional considerations as well. Are you prepared to part with your childhood home—or live in it? Do you and your siblings agree on how to proceed? And if not, how do you resolve these issues?\nAnother complication is probate. Probate is a lengthy—and costly—court process that determines how an estate is distributed after a person's death. Probate can drag out over many months and often requires legal help. Proactive estate planning, including the creation of a living trust, can help you and your family avoid probate. This is an important step to discuss with your parents or relatives, especially if you're in line to inherit their property. It's also something you may wish to undertake yourself to make inheritance simpler for your heirs. END