probaite why we had lawyer and will

by Dr. Shania Wuckert PhD 10 min read

Why would I need a probate attorney?

Since they know the probate laws inside and out, a lawyer will be able to guide you through the steps quickly and efficiently. They'll also be able to take care of troublesome paperwork and ensure you don't make any mistakes that can turn into bigger problems later. Most importantly, however, hiring a probate lawyer will help you focus on what really matters, which is mourning …

Does a will make the probate process easier?

Well, at the very first, choosing a probate attorney is an important decision to be made by the personal representative of a deceased person’s estate to ensure everything goes fine. Basically, a probate lawyer is held to be liable to suggest the representative of the estate that how to manage the assets of the deceased one. Any person, be it the executor, administrator, or the …

Is it possible to avoid probate?

Mar 17, 2022 · Most people think of probate as involving a will. If a person dies and leaves a will, then probate is required to implement the provisions of that will. However, a probate process also can happen if a person dies without a will and has property that needs to be distributed under the state intestacy law (the law of inheritance). If the decedent owned an account that named a …

Should I hire the cheapest probate lawyer?

In other words, many lawyers no longer insist on taking responsibility for all the work of a probate case. They will agree to provide limited services—for example, answering your questions during the probate process—while you take on other tasks traditionally done by the lawyer, such as drawing up the probate court papers. Especially if your court provides fill-in-the-blanks probate …

What are the duties of a life insurance agent?

Some of the jobs they might take care of including the following: 1 Appraising the property of the person who passed away 2 Securing all that person's assets 3 Finding out how much (if any) estate taxes are owed 4 Handling the proceeds from life insurance 5 Filling out any necessary documents

Why do you need a probate lawyer?

Most importantly, however, hiring a probate lawyer will help you focus on what really matters, which is mourning your loved one who passed away and being with family and friends.

What happens when a person passes away?

When a person passes away, they leave behind a number of assets, such as their personal belongings, a home, money, etc. Most people appoint an executor of will to be in charge of disbursing these assets to any other beneficiaries. This process can often be complicated and confusing.

How many years of experience do probate lawyers have?

Any probate lawyer you work with should have at least several years of experience. If your case is complicated, you should also make sure they have worked in similar circumstances. This way you know they can handle any problems that come up along the way.

Who is Aaron DeBruin?

Aaron De Bruin is an Estate Planning and Criminal Defense attorney serving Greenville, SC and the surrounding upstate. Aaron fights for the rights of every one of his clients works hard to make sure they are treated fairly – no matter how small or large a legal case may be.

What to do if someone passes away with life insurance?

Handling the proceeds from life insurance. Filling out any necessary documents. If the person who passed away had any debt or bills they failed to pay, a probate lawyer will also advise the executor of will on the best way to handle these issues.

What happens if someone dies without a will?

If someone dies without a will, all their assets must be dispersed according to intestacy laws. In other words, the state will distribute the assets—regardless of what the person may have wanted. For cases like these, you can hire a probate lawyer to help the administrator of the estate (which is kind of like the executor of will) ...

Why do we need probate?

There are many common reasons to why to hire probate these days. Some of the top of them are –. Probate is necessary if there is no will of the decedent one. It is necessary if there a valid will is there. Probate of will is important if there are some problems with the existing will. It is necessary when the assets are completely on the name ...

What is probate attorney?

Basically, a probate lawyer is held to be liable to suggest the representative of the estate that how to manage the assets of the deceased one. Any person, be it the executor, administrator, or the beneficiary, can consider hiring the probate attorney for the deceased one’s property affairs. Usually, a probate attorney has ...

Why do you have to go to probate court?

There really are only five reasons why you'd have to go to probate court to either make your claim on the deceased's assets or to prove that you are a legal beneficiary. If any one of the following applies to you or to the deceased, then you might want to consult a probate attorney. 1. Probate court is necessary if the will is deemed invalid ...

What happens if you don't have a will?

2. Probate is required if the deceased didn't have a Last Will and Testament. If there is no will, then there has to be a legal and equitable probate court process for distributing the deceased assets and for transferring the title of probate property. The only way to do this is with probate. 3.

When is probate required?

Probate is required if the assets were owned as a Tenant in Common or Joint Tenancy. What this means if the deceased owned property jointly with another person, such as in the case of a common law marriage, then probate is required to ensure that the deceased's share of the property is properly distributed to legal heirs.

How to avoid probate?

One of the most popular ways to avoid probate is through the use of a revocable living trust. Assets are placed in the trust, but they can used by the trust creator during his or her lifetime. Upon death, assets in the trust are passed to the trust beneficiaries just by operation of the trust document. No probate is necessary.

What happens if a person dies without a will?

If a person dies and leaves a will, then probate is required to implement the provisions of that will. However, a probate process also can happen if a person dies without a will and has property that needs to be distributed under the state intestacy law (the law of inheritance).

What happens to a payable on death account?

Payable on death accounts operate the same way. Real estate that is owned as joint tenants, or joint tenants by the entirety passes outside of probate as well. This type of property has two owners.

Do you have to probate a will?

Some people don’t want to probate a will. There is no requirement that a will or property go through probate, but if the decedent owned property that is not arranged specifically to avoid probate, there is no way for the beneficiaries to obtain legal ownership without it. There are some exceptions to this.

Is probate a scary process?

With careful planning, probate can sometimes be avoided. Still, probate doesn't have to be a scary process. Probate sounds like a complex and expensive process. However, probate is actually a very common legal procedure and is the way that some assets must be formally passed from the person who is deceased to his or her heirs or beneficiaries.

What to do when winding up an estate?

When you're winding up an estate, there's usually a lot of legwork to be done—things like making phone calls and gathering documents. Many of these tasks don't need to be done by someone with a law degree. So if you're paying the lawyer by the hour, you'll probably want to volunteer to take on some of this work yourself.

How long do you have to keep a probate case open?

State law requires you to keep the probate case open for months, to give people time to come forward with disputes or claims—but in most probates, beneficiaries don't argue about anything in court, and few creditors submit formal claims. By all means, ask the lawyer any questions you have about the proceeding.