Probate Administration
What is Probate?
Probate is the administration of a deceased person's will or the estate of a deceased person without a will. During this process, the court distributes any assets of an estate to each beneficiary or heir and makes sure that any creditors are paid.
Benefits of hiring an attorney for probate administration:
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Minimize your risk of error and inaccuracy.
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Ensure that documents are turned in by the deadline.
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Distribute money and assets.
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Draft all documents to avoid problems in the future with inaccurate documents.
Probate Process
There are four main steps to the probate process. The entire probate process lasts between 8 - 12 months
Opening the deceased’s estate:
Filing the will if one exists, filing the death certificate, and ensuring that the client is appointed as the personal representative of the estate.
Inventory and appraisal of assets:
Gathering and inventorying the decedents assets. We will determine which assets are legitimately included in the estate and which assets pass outside of probate.
Liability of the estate:
Once the inventory is complete, any potential liabilities for the estate are identified. This phase allows creditors to file claims against the estate.
Distribution of assets & closing:
The last step is the distribution of assets. This involves identifying each heir or beneficiary and determining how much they will receive. The estate can then be closed out and the probate process is complete.