Estate Settlement

Hiring an Attorney

Experiencing the loss of a cherished individual can be a profoundly challenging ordeal, and when coupled with the complexities of resolving estate matters, the months following the passing can far exceed our anticipations. This is precisely the juncture where enlisting the services of a legal professional could prove highly beneficial. In the face of such circumstances, seeking guidance from estate settlement experts emerges as the wisest course of action.

What is Probate?

Probate constitutes the formal validation of a will. This procedural journey aims not only to establish the legal authenticity of a will that has been duly signed, witnessed, and recorded, but it encompasses a scope far beyond the mere confirmation of these aspects.

In conjunction with the court's validation of the deceased individual's will, the probate process encompasses the following facets:

1. Identification and Cataloging of the Deceased's Personal and Real Assets
2. Assessment of Property Value via Appraisal
3. Settlement of Debts and Tax Obligations
4. Allocation of the Remaining Assets in accordance with the will's directives (or, in the absence of a will, as dictated by state law)

In Situations without a Will:

In instances where an individual passes away without leaving behind a valid will that bears a proper date, signature, and requisite witnesses, the court assumes responsibility for determining the beneficiaries of the deceased's assets. In this scenario, the dynamics of familial relationships become inconsequential; the state allocates property and finances to surviving individuals solely based on their legal connection to the deceased. This circumstance is termed "intestate" succession. Generally, intestate succession laws designate spouses, common-law spouses, and blood relatives as the beneficiaries entitled to inherit.