what is a estate lawyer

by Amie Smitham 5 min read

Estate planning attorneys, also referred to as estate law attorneys or probate attorneys, are experienced and licensed law professionals with a thorough understanding of the state and federal laws that affect how your estate will be inventoried, valued, dispersed, and taxed after your death.

What are the duties of an estate attorney?

An estate lawyer is a bar certified attorney who specializes in estate planning and assists clients in drafting and implementing legal documents, including wills and trusts. Estate law is closely related to family law, since lawyers often must work with related individuals who are involved with an …

How to become an estate lawyer?

Feb 11, 2022 · What Is An Estate Law Attorney? professionals can provide legal advise on determining a will’s property rights, taxation and valuation, in order to ensure that your estate is inventoried, valued and dispersed once you die. Table of contents what is the difference between a probate lawyer and an estate lawyer? what does estate law include?

What exactly does a real estate lawyer do?

Estate planning attorneys, also referred to as estate law attorneys or probate attorneys, are experienced and licensed law professionals with a thorough understanding of the state and federal laws that affect how your estate will be inventoried, valued, dispersed, and taxed after your death. In addition to educating you about the probate process, an estate planning attorney …

What is the average fee for an estate lawyer?

Jan 21, 2022 · An estate planning attorney is trained in matters related to passing on your assets after you die. Estate attorneys help you create draft documents and create plan so that your assets go to your intended beneficiaries without any court battles or big tax bills. A strong estate plan starts with life insurance Get free quotes

image

What is an estate?

An estate is anything that makes up a person’s net worth. To determine a person’s estate, you add up their assets and deduct their debts. Real property like land can be part of a person’s estate. Personal property like household items and vehicles can also be part of an estate as well as bank accounts and other financial instruments.

What does an attorney do?

Attorneys sometimes help their clients react to something that’s already occurred. Other times, attorneys help their clients plan for the future. For example, they help their clients create a contract or they advise their clients on what behavior complies with the law and avoids civil penalties. Estate law is both proactive and reactive.

What is reactive law?

Some practice of law is simply reactive. For example, a criminal defense lawyer helps a client react when they’re facing a criminal charge. Likewise, most civil litigation cases involve a dispute over something that’s already occurred. Attorneys sometimes help their clients react to something that’s already occurred.

Why do people use trusts?

A client might use a trust in order to minimize estate taxes and minimize the hassles that can go along with estate distribution. In other cases, a trust is helpful to manage assets for a minor or a person with disabilities.

When do you need a guardian?

When a person is unable to manage their own affairs because of a physical or mental disability, they may need a guardianship. Adults need a guardianship when they’re unable to handle their own affairs. Children need guardianships when their parents are unable to care for them.

What is an estate in common?

To put it simply, an estate is what a person has to their name.

What is it called when a person dies without a will?

When a person dies without a will it’s called dying intestate. Each state has rules for what happens when a person dies without a will. An estate lawyer may help their client handle the estate or contest the distribution of an estate when a person dies without estate planning.

What is an estate lawyer?

An estate lawyer is trained in matters related to passing on your assets after you die, and planning for situations where you can no longer care for yourself. They are experts in wills, trusts, and your local probate process. Some estate lawyers may also have specialties, like planning the succession of a business.

Who is Derek from Policygenius?

Derek is a personal finance editor at Policygenius in New York City, and an expert in taxes. He has been writing about estate planning, investing, and other personal finance topics since 2017. He especially loves using data to tell a story. His work has been covered by Yahoo Finance, MSN, Business Insider, and CNBC.

What is estate law?

Estate law is a sub-genre of property law that governs the manner in which an individual’s estate is handled. This includes overseeing how that person’s property is managed in both their lifetime, as well as after they are deceased or have become incapacitated. Specifically, the term “estate” refers to all of an individual’s personal belongings, ...

What is considered an estate?

Specifically, the term “estate” refers to all of an individual’s personal belongings, real property, and intangible assets, such as patents or copyrights. Any debt and taxes on the property owned, may also be included as part of the estate.

What is the ultimate goal of estate planning?

Distribution of Property: The way in which property gets distributed to the rightful beneficiaries is the ultimate goal of estate planning. Debt: Any debts that an individual still owes will need to be addressed, even after they have become incapacitated or deceased.

What is the role of executor in a will?

Duties of the Executor: As just discussed, an executor handles the distribution of a deceased individual’s estate. However, an executor (also called an administrator) is legally responsible for fulfilling certain duties and must carry out the deceased individual’s wishes in accordance with what is stated in their will.

What is probate lawyer?

Generally speaking, probate lawyers, also called estate or trust lawyers, help executors of the estate (or “administrators," if there is no will) manage the probate process. They also may help with estate planning, such as the drafting of wills or living trusts, give advice on powers of attorney, or even serve as an executor or administrator.

What does a probate attorney do?

A probate attorney usually handles the process of estate administration after a person dies. An estate planning attorney, on the other hand, works with living clients on how their client's estates should be administered. The attorney could do that by helping clients prepare trusts, wills, and other relevant documents.

What happens if you die with a will?

If an individual dies with a will, a probate lawyer may be hired to advise parties, such as the executor of the estate or a beneficiary, on various legal matters. For instance, an attorney may review the will to ensure the will wasn't signed or written under duress (or against the best interests of the individual).

What to do if someone dies without a will?

You Don’t Have To Solve This on Your Own – Get a Lawyer’s Help.

How is an estate distributed?

When this happens, your estate is distributed according to the intestacy laws of the state where the property resides, regardless of your wishes. For instance, if you are married, your surviving spouse receives all of your intestate property under many states' intestate laws.

Can you take your will with you when you die?

As the old saying goes, you can't take it with you when you die. But a probate lawyer can help surviving family members settle your debts and distribute your assets after you're gone, with or without a will. So what is a probate lawyer?

What is estate planning?

An estate is the real and/or personal property a person possesses at death. The practice area of estate planning law involves the drafting of living wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and other documents to facilitate the transfer and management of property after death. When estates aren't managed and someone dies without a will, ...

What is probate in real estate?

Probate: The legal process of transferring of property upon a person's death, particularly in the absence of a will. Real Property: Property consisting of land, buildings, crops, or other resources still attached to or within the land or improvements; or fixtures permanently attached to the land or a structure on it.

What is an intestate will?

Intestate: Having not made a valid will before death; not disposing of property of by a valid will. Advance Directive: A document (as a living will or durable power of attorney) in which a person expresses his or her wishes regarding medical treatment in the event of incapacitation.

What is a living will?

Living Wills: Legal document outlining medical and end-of-life preferences in the event that you are unable to communicate these wishes.

What happens if you don't make a will?

When estates aren't managed and someone dies without a will, their possessions will distributed to their next of kin. By not making a will or otherwise making estate plans, the individual gives up control of their estate and has no say in how the property is divided.

Protect your home

If you have received a Notice of Default and are at risk of foreclosure, The Property Lawyer™ may be able to help you save your home under the protections provided by California Homeowner Bill of Rights.

Protect your investment

Owning commercial real estate comes with its share of legal challenges. Whether you a are a first time buyer or a savvy investor, The Property Lawyer will guide you through your transaction from the ground up.

Protect your ideas

Ideas drive innovation. Keep your ideas, and protect your business growth by registering your trademark. The Property Lawyer™ will guide you through the legal pathways to protect your brand and ideas.

image

What Is An Estate?

  • An estate is anything that makes up a person’s net worth. To determine a person’s estate, you add up their assets and deduct their debts. Real property like land can be part of a person’s estate. Personal property like household items and vehicles can also be part of an estate as well as bank accounts and other financial instruments. If a person owns property in common with others, thei…
See more on legalcareerpath.com

What Kinds of Law Makes Up Estate Law?

  • There are several different types of law that make up estate law. These types of law often intertwine. Estate law may involve any of the following types of law:
See more on legalcareerpath.com

Estate Law Is Both Transactional and Litigation

  • Attorneys who practice estate law may practice transactional lawas well as litigation. When estate lawyers prepare documents and help clients plan for the future, they’re transactional lawyers. There are no court appearances involved in making a will or preparing a trust, for example. If there’s a will contest, an estate lawyer is a litigator. An estate attorney may attend court and pre…
See more on legalcareerpath.com

Estate Law Is Both Proactive and Reactive

  • Some practice of law is simply reactive. For example, a criminal defense lawyerhelps a client react when they’re facing a criminal charge. Likewise, most civil litigation cases involve a dispute over something that’s already occurred. Attorneys sometimes help their clients react to something that’s already occurred. Other times, attorneys help their clients plan for the future. For example, …
See more on legalcareerpath.com

Estate Law Is Primarily State Law

  • Most estate law is state law. State laws determine what needs to be in a will in order to make it valid. There are federal estate taxes that may applyto an estate. Clients with multi-million dollar estates must be careful to structure their estates in a way that contemplates federal estate taxes. To properly serve clients, an attorney must know what state and federal laws apply to their client…
See more on legalcareerpath.com

Who Practices Estate Law?

  • Estate lawyers live and work throughout the United States. People everywhere need estate planning. Many estate lawyers live and work in small towns. Others live in big cities. Lots of people who never otherwise seek legal services use attorneys to do their estate planning. For that reason, estate lawyers find success in every corner of the country. Many estate lawyers combin…
See more on legalcareerpath.com

Why Become and Estate Lawyer?

  • Estate law can be a fulfilling area of law for many reasons. It can be rewarding to help clients plan for their future and take care of their families. For lawyers who enjoy writing and studying complex laws along with the occasional court appearance and litigation, estate law can provide a rewarding balance among varying types of law. Estate law can also provide a solid financial fou…
See more on legalcareerpath.com

Helping Clients Plan For The Present and The Future

  • Estate law is a mixture of transactional law and litigation. Lawyers who practice estate law have a variety of skills including writing and interpersonal communication that they use to help their clients understand the law and create the best plan to meet their personal objectives. Estate lawyers help clients organize their personal affairs. Estate law helps clients reach their goals in …
See more on legalcareerpath.com