Probate
Dealing with the Probate Court can be a hassle, but it can be navigated with guidance from our probate attorneys, whether you're in the proactive planning phase or are in crisis planning.
To Probate or Not to Probate
Probate can be a difficult and expensive process to go through. Even if your loved one passed away with a proper will in place, there are still many steps to take to make sure the estate is administered properly.
If you or a loved one is facing the distribution of an estate after death, our probate attorneys can walk you through the Probate and Estate Administration process and other options that can help avoid Probate Court.
What is an estate?
An estate is all of a person’s assets. These include but are not limited to real estate, cash, stocks, bonds, life insurance, investment accounts, retirement accounts, bank accounts, vehicles, and miscellaneous personal belongings.
What is a will?
A will is a legal document that tells the Probate Court how to distribute a person’s estate according to his or her wishes.
Intestate
If a person dies without a will, they are deemed to have died intestate. There are then certain laws that step in to determine how his or her estate should be distributed.
Decedent
Decedent is the legal term for the person who has died and now has the estate that is in Probate.
Executor
There is typically an executor named in a decedent’s will, and this person has multiple duties and responsibilities including but not limited to making an inventory and appraisement of the decedent’s estate, paying estate debts, paying estate taxes, and distributing the estate assets according to the decedent’s will.
Decedent
Decedent is the legal term for the person who has died and now has the estate that is in Probate.
Administrator
If a person dies intestate and there is no executor named, the Probate court requires an administrator be names to carry out the normal duties of an executor.