Has your family recently lost a loved one, and now have to deal with the probate process? If you aren’t sure where to start, you may benefit from having a probate lawyer walk you through the process. Especially during a time of profound grief, it can be difficult to handle a legal proceeding without guidance. Probate is a legal proceeding that verifies a person’s will, and can be a long and grueling process.
It is common for a close family member or friend to be appointed by the decedent to be the executor of a will. This person then has to manage the estate and assets of the decedent, including distributing assets to beneficiaries. Other duties that an executor may have to perform are listed as follows:
- Collect debts owed to the estate
- Pay claims against the estate
- Close the estate
- Initiate probate ofthe will
- Collect and inventory the decedent’s assets
- Distributing assets to beneficiaries
- And more
The responsibilities listed above can be time-consuming and daunting, especially if you are not experienced in estate planning law. Well-intentioned executors may make mistakes when handling the deceased’s assets, not purposefully, but often because they are too consumed with grief and just don’t understand their role. That is where a lawyer can help, as they are an unbiased person who can answer questions, offer advice, and help tackle some of an executor’s duties.