Estate Planning/Probate

While nobody wants to think about death or disability, establishing an estate plan is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones. Proper estate planning not only puts you in charge of your finances, but it can also spare your loved ones of the expense, delay and frustration associated with managing your affairs when you pass away or become disabled.

When a loved one passes away, his or her estate often goes through a court-managed process called probate or estate administration where the assets of the deceased are managed and distributed. The length of time needed to complete the probate of an estate depends on the size and complexity of the estate and the local rules and schedule of the probate court.

Every probate estate is unique, but most involve the following steps:

Filing of a petition with the proper probate court
Notice to heirs under the will or to statutory heirs (if no will exists)
Petition to appoint executor (in the case of a will) or administrator for the estate
Inventory and appraisal of estate assets by executor/administrator
Payment of estate debt to rightful creditors
Sale of estate assets
Payment of estate taxes, if applicable
Final distribution of assets to heirs

Practice Areas

Information Center

Estate Planning/Probate