Understanding the Probate Process
Finder Law Serves Clients Across Jefferson City, Columbia, and Central Missouri
If you’ve experienced the loss of a loved one, you know that the last thing on your mind is administrating their estate. However, this is very important. Estate administration is complicated and can feel overwhelming, but it is important to take care of it in a timely manner. The information below outlines what probate is, why it is necessary, what is involved and why you may need a lawyer to help.
Probate is also known as estate administration and refers to taking care of your loved one’s debts and assets after they die. There is no way to completely avoid probate, but if your loved one prepared estate documents in advance, most of the process can be avoided.
The first step, and probably the most important, is appointing a representative for your loved one’s estate. If they had a will, this person would be named in that document. If not, one will be appointed by the court. This person must take an inventory of all assets and debts and distribute those assets to beneficiaries. If your loved one had a will, these beneficiaries are likely named. Once the representative has completed the job of distributing the assets of the estate, they can petition the court for compensation for their services to be paid out of the estate’s funds.
The types of property that could be part of someone’s estate include homes, cars, bank accounts, jewelry, furniture, investment accounts, etc. The representative’s job becomes more complicated based on the size of the estate to be administered. If no estate planning was done prior to their passing, the probate process is a lengthy one. That means that the job of the representative can be burdensome, so they may decide to hire an attorney to help. An attorney can guide and assist the representative through a process that is often foreign.
An experienced attorney, like Daniel Finder at Finder Law, can help you in the probate process and walk you through each step. Daniel Finder has over a decade of experience in probate law & estate planning, so he is more than capable of making the process as easy as possible. If you find yourself administering the will of a loved one, or if you want to prepare estate documents for yourself, Daniel Finder is here to help.
This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific guidance, please contact our office directly.
