What is a Probate Lawyer?
Since we can’t take it with us, as the saying goes, a probate lawyer’s job is to make sure your assets are distributed as you wish after you are gone. Proper execution means developing an effective estate plan, creating your will or living trust, and helping your executor pay the debts and distribute your assets to your beneficiaries.
When a parent passes, the executor and the children of the deceased may face several challenges while liquidating the assets of the estate. While some aspects can be somewhat perplexing, an experienced estate attorney will help to smooth the way.
When considering the various components of your will, tax considerations should be an important element to discuss with your professional estate planner. After all, leaving your heirs with substantially less because of an unintended tax bite is likely not your intent.
When you were just starting out and beginning to accumulate assets, thoughts of caring for your growing family’s future if you were suddenly gone likely developed. While in your twenties or thirties, you began to save, invest, and maybe even purchased a life insurance policy to protect your family’s financial future in the event of unfortunate circumstances.
Adapting to changing circumstances is important at any time of your life. When managing your estate, you should always be mindful that certain events could impact decisions you may have made in the past.
From the time you begin to accumulate assets, you should start considering how your passing could affect others and how you wish your property to be distributed. Estate planning becomes especially important when you have a spouse, children, and perhaps grandchildren to consider. (more…)
As painful as it can be to discuss your eventual passing, forethought and proper planning will ensure that your assets pass efficiently to your designated heirs. Making the job of your executor of estate less complicated and avoiding a complex probate process is best assured if you, the testator, leave clear and unambiguous information and instructions.
Your executor of estate has several responsibilities to manage at the time of your death. Besides securing your home, advising relatives and others, and ordering death certificates, the individual is responsible for gathering all documents pertaining to your life including deeds, titles, insurance policies, marriage license, divorce decrees, bank accounts, Social Security, and more.
