Probate

Probate is the legal process of transferring property upon a person’s death. Probate is a public, court-supervised process, and it becomes necessary when someone dies without a Living Trust. A Last Will and Testament alone is not enough to avoid Probate, but if the deceased created one, it can act as a roadmap for the Probate process, especially if it identifies the estate’s Executor and the way in which the deceased wanted the estate’s assets to be distributed among its heirs.

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Probate is a very methodical process, and it includes locating and determining the value of the decedent’s assets, liquidating them, if necessary, to pay the final bills and taxes, then distributing the remainder of the estate to the rightful heirs or beneficiaries.

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Probate is never easy. It comes at a time of loss and grieving and it is time-consuming. I can help you through the process to make it manageable. I have the experience to counsel you or your family members through this difficult time.

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Trust Administration

Because of the costs and delays associated with probate proceedings, many individuals elect to establish living trusts. In addition, a variety of other trusts can achieve a number of objectives such as protecting assets, providing for loved ones with special needs, or planning for long-term care. While a trust is not probated in court like a will, there are legal requirements associated with administering a trust. In addition, those who have been named as trustees have a legal obligation to properly manage the trust assets.