Adoption is the process of legally affirming a non-biological child as your own through a court order. A step-parent may also adopt the child of their spouse.
It is essential to have a valid Will in place at any age to control the disposition of your property. Passing without a Will creates extreme hardship for your family.
In many cases, an order from the probate court is required to pass title of property from a deceased relative to their heirs. This process is called probating an estate.