When a loved one passes away, the executor or beneficiaries of the estate will need help from a probate attorney to get through the process. A skilled probate lawyer will make the probate process easier for everyone involved and will ensure that all of your rights are protected.
The best probate attorneys are state-licensed and experienced in estate law. This allows them to provide you with advice and guidance throughout the process and to draft documents such as wills and trusts, which can help you settle your loved one’s affairs and ensure their wishes are carried out.
They can also provide legal assistance for other probate matters such as filing taxes, dealing with will disputes, resolving creditor claims and distributing assets to heirs and beneficiaries. They can even offer coaching to assist you with transferring the ownership of your property after someone has passed away.
You should search for a probate attorney who is located close to you and has a strong background in estate planning. A probate lawyer who has a deep understanding of local laws can be especially helpful for handling cases such as will & trust contests, guardianship litigation and contested estates.
A probate attorney will help you with determining which of the decedent’s assets should be distributed to which heirs, and they will ensure that all of the debts associated with the estate are paid as well. This includes mortgage payments, utility bills, insurance premiums due at the time of death, car loans and taxes.
In addition, your probate attorney can file all the necessary court forms and will also provide you with a list of required documents that need to be filled out. These forms will contain information about the assets that are in the estate, so it’s important that they are filed correctly to avoid a lengthy delay in the probate process.
The probate attorney you choose should be someone who is experienced in all areas of estate administration and has a strong track record of success. A good estate lawyer will have a firm understanding of the Uniform Probate Code, which regulates all legal documents related to a deceased person’s estate.
This code will dictate the rules and limits that apply to wills, trusts and other legal documents, so it’s important for a probate lawyer to be knowledgeable about it. This will allow them to be able to handle all of the complex legal issues that may arise during the probate process.
A good probate attorney will be able to guide you through the entire process and will provide a detailed account of everything that is happening throughout the whole process. This is important because it allows you to feel comfortable about the decision that you have made and to know that your loved one’s final wishes will be followed through with.
You can also find a lawyer through a website like Super Lawyers that has a listing of accredited attorneys who have a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement in the area of estate planning and probate. This can help you to narrow down the field of potential candidates, so you can be confident that you’re choosing the right probate lawyer for your needs.