9/05/2014

Understanding Inheritance Funding For Beneficiaries

By Kerri Stout


When someone dies, it often leaves family members with financial difficulties. Life insurance pay outs, if the deceased even had a policy, can take some time. Unfortunately, the same is true with will and inheritances. Before inheritances can be distributed, a court must review and certify the will. Depending on the volume of cases the court has, the number of beneficiaries and any other interference, the probate process can take some time. Inheritance funding is a means of providing financial support while you await the will's release from court.

The heir, or beneficiary, is the person noted in a will to inherit property, money, or both when the principle person dies. For inheritances, loans or advances are available on monetary amounts. Companies that provide this service know that wills can be tied up in probate for months. Instead of suffering financially, these advances and loans provide relief.

You should understand that this funding is not always in the form of a loan. It is an advance on some of the money you are inheriting. The company charges a fee for this advance. Advances do not have interest that accrues. After the funds are released by the court, the company deducts the amount that was advanced and the fee from the funds.

A loan is a bit different. Some lending companies provide loans on inheritances that work a lot similar to an advance, using your inherited funds as collateral. Other companies may or may not work this way but they do charge an interest rate. You may also get an additional charge for processing.

Regardless of which type of method is used, you will need to fill out an application for the company. You will be required to submit documentation regarding the amount you are due to inherit. In many cases, the company will require contact information for the probate lawyer. Once you have provided everything the company needs, your application and documentation will be reviewed.

If approved, the company will tell you how much they are loaning or advancing, along with fees that are being charged. The approval process can take as little as a few days or as long as a few weeks, often depending on the complexity of your case. Be aware that the amount the company approved you for may not be as much as you requested.

Once you have been approved, you will be provided with a contract agreement to review and sign before funds are released to you. Read your agreement completely, paying particular attention to the terms regarding repayment of the loan or advance. These terms will specify if there is a dedicated date for full repayment, in addition to the fees and interest rate that may be charged.

Discuss your options with the probate lawyer that is handling your case. Allow him or her to look over your contract agreement, before you sign it. This type of funding can be helpful in your time of need, but if it is not handled by a reputable company you can wind up in near financial ruins.




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