Probate Court Web Sites Graded

HALT – An Organization of Americans for Legal Reform, has posted the results of its National Probate Web Site Survey in which it “grades” the probate web sites of all the states.  HALT concludes that:

the vast majority of states offer little or no information on how to probate an estate, leaving consumers with little choice but to hire an attorney and pay expensive legal fees for what, in most cases, should be a simple and routine procedure.  * * *

Providing comprehensive and user-friendly Web site resources on probate is possible. A number of jurisdictions (New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Maryland, Colorado and the District of Columbia) are leading the way.

David Giacalone reports on his blog that the Consumer Federation of America has issued the following statement:

CFA urges states to improve the content and user-friendliness of their probate court Web sites. Consumers should be able to go online and easily find plain-language information and forms for settling a small estate.