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Determining what will happen after you pass away by setting up an estate plan can be lead to a more fruitful life.

A woman passed away in 2009 entirely unknown. She had no known heirs or estate plan. However, the value of her amateur photography has now sparked a copyright battle.

Coffin clubs are being formed to work toward making funerals less somber and less boring, according to Market Watch in "Want to spice up your own funeral? Join a coffin club."

When someone dies without a will, relatives turn to state law, which provides a list of people who are eligible to fill the role of executor. If a probate court proceeding is necessary, the court will choose someone based on that priority list.

If you're looking for fun ways to earn extra cash in your retirement, you should consider leveraging a hobby you may have already been enjoying for decades.

There are many different ways to fund a college education and a trust is one of them.

Many people find it hard to come to terms with their own mortality, which can make transitioning wealth from one generation to the next very difficult. But putting it off, and worse still, not dealing with it, can be one of the worst mistakes we can make. 

If a university closes its doors, there is a slight chance of getting endowment money back. Every year hundreds of schools close their doors permanently, but still have money in their endowment funds with some chance of recovery by donors.

If you do not have a will or estate plan, the courts in your state of residence will decide where your assets go and that may not be to your spouse or children. If you believe you do not need a will or estate plan and that your family will receive your assets when you pass away, you may may very well be mistaken.

The will of the Duke of Windsor will be opened for copyright determination. A court in the U.K. has ruled that the will of the Duke of Windsor, who passed away in 1972, will now be unsealed for for limited purposes.

If you have considerable wealth, it might be a good idea to get a variety of opinions but it also might be a good idea to hire someone to help you manage it all.

There are common mistakes in estate planning that are not often mentioned, despite the fact they are made over and over again.

Marriage, divorce and remarriage sparks debate on veteran's burial site. A veteran of World War II recently passed away. Now two widows are fighting over where he should be buried.

The IRS has announced some important changes in tax adjustments and deduction limits based on inflation for 2017. They can make a difference for people planning their estates.

More and more people are protecting pets in their estate plans, as well as their loved ones. There are some tips that should be considered, if you plan to protect your pets after you pass away.

Social Security benefits are important to most retirees, so make sure you get the most out of it. Many people choose to figure out how to maximize their Social Security benefits for themselves.  However, many do so to their own detriment.

Preparing for an emergency means you need to do things, such as make sure that you have a supply of non-perishable food and drinking water.

People can give the remains of their loved ones to companies that will cremate a small portion to give to the families and sell the rest to researchers. However, that market is poorly regulated.

If you don't have an estate plan, the courts will decide where your assets go using statutes written by your state government.

If you are an older citizen considering remarriage, it would be wise to explore what you need to know about finances and estate planning. The trend in American to remarry in later years can lead to consequences down the road.

If you want to know some of the errors that have been make in the estate planning world, take a look at a recent video presented by The Motley Fool in ""Haunt Your Heirs From Beyond the Grave -- With These Horrifying Estate Planning Errors and Oddities."

Not all states recognize common law marriage and its impact on an estate.

A common way to prevent the chances of a permanent rift in a family over an estate disagreement, is for the court to send the parties involved to mediation. Mediation can reduce hard feelings between family members and may prevent a permanent rift.

If you are planning on retirement, you might consider possible upcoming challenges. Some fundamental legal documents need to be drafted as you look toward retirement and the golden years, according to Gambit in "The legal needs of aging parents."

While parents often avoid discussing their finances with their children, it may make things easier in the future if they do. Suddenly not being able to handle your own finances can lead to big problems.