who does an estate lawyer represent

Generally, the lawyer represents the individual who hired him to assist in the administration or probate of the estate. ·If that person has only one role and is not a fiduciary, the lawyer represents only that person, unless the client and lawyer agree otherwise.

Full Answer

What are the duties of an estate attorney?

The lawyer represents the estate by acting for and through the fiduciary of the estate for the ultimate benefit of the beneficiaries of the estate. Because the lawyer is retained by the Personal Representative to represent the estate and because the Personal Representative is legally required to serve the beneficiaries, the lawyer also has an obligation to the beneficiaries.

How to become an estate lawyer?

This lawyer is the personal representative's lawyer. The duties of this lawyer to the other beneficiaries of the estate is limited. The attorney hired by the personal representative may incur personal liability if he or she deliberately helps the personal …

What exactly does a real estate lawyer do?

Jul 28, 2020 · If you are an heir of the estate, the lawyer should give you some guidance. If the probate estate is in one of the majority states, the first letter from the attorney should start with a sentence that reads, “I have been retained by Mr. Smith, Executor of the Estate of Ms. Smith. It is important that you understand I do not represent you.”.

What is it like to be a real estate lawyer?

Jul 15, 2020 · One of the biggest sources of conflict in probating the estate is understanding who the probate attorney hired by the Personal Representative of a probate estate represents. Many Personal Representatives do not understand the probate process and leave the tasks up to the lawyer. The heirs of the estate may hear only from the probate attorney, or may hear the …

Should the Estate Attorney Talk to Non-Clients?

An attorney in a probate is hired by a particular person, usually the personal representative. Ethically the attorney may not give advice to other people, including heirs who are to inherit under the will, and may not disclose confidential matters.

Discounts On Nevada Uncontested Probate

We offer substantial discounts from statutory attorneys fees in all Nevada uncontested probates and for uncontested California probates over $400,000.

What is the first step in probate?

Whether you are the Executor or an heir of the probate estate, knowing the lawyer’s role is one of the first steps you should take at the beginning of the probate process. One of the biggest sources of conflict in probating the estate is understanding the role of the lawyer hired by the Executor of a probate estate.

What are fiduciary duties?

Also, before answering the question, it is helpful to have an idea of some common activities created by fiduciary duties in the context of probating an estate: 1 Duty to communicate: a duty to notify the beneficiaries the estate exists, identify the Executor, provide a copy of the inventory, provide copies of court filings, generally explain documents that require a beneficiary’s signature, etc. This duty to communicate is not the same thing as an attorney-client relationship, which means there is no attorney-client privilege and the attorney cannot give legal advice. 2 Duty to account: provide regular estate accountings, which includes explaining funds paid out of estate accounts for expenses. 3 Duty to treat all beneficiaries equal: distribute estate funds at the same time, if a question arises as to how something in the Will is to be interpreted the attorney cannot interpret it, the court must interpret it.

What is the duty to communicate?

Duty to communicate: a duty to notify the beneficiaries the estate exists, identify the Executor, provide a copy of the inventory, provide copies of court filings, generally explain documents that require a beneficiary’s signature, etc. This duty to communicate is not the same thing as an attorney-client relationship, ...

Do lawyers have fiduciary duties?

Only a few states require the lawyer to meet the same fiduciary duty to the estate heirs as the Executor. These states believe that since the Executor owes a fiduciary duty to the heirs and the lawyer owes a fiduciary duty to the Executor, the duty flows from the Executor to the lawyer. Most states, however, take the position ...

So, who does the Probate Attorney really represent?

The answer to that question depends on the state in which the estate is being probated.

McDonald Law Firm is here to help

Everyone’s goal should be for the settling of the probate estate to go smoothly. Understanding the lawyer’s role will go a long way towards achieving that goal. If you have questions or would like to discuss your personal situation, we are available to have a consultation with you via telephone or via video conferencing if you prefer.

What happens to an estate when a person dies?

Upon death, the decedent’s interests are no longer those of a living person. In a probate proceeding, assets, liabilities, and any other financial matters become the interest of the “estate” of the deceased. The estate, however, must be represented by a living entity.

What is an interested party in probate?

An interested party is someone who has some financial interest in the settlement of the decedent’s estate.

What is probate after death?

Probate is the legal procedure by which a deceased individual’s property passes to others after his or her death. Probate is usually necessary whether the person died with a will or without a will (which is known as “intestate”). Upon death, the decedent’s interests are no longer those of a living person.

When does probate occur?

When Does a Probate Proceeding Occur? If the decedent left a will and named someone as executor, that person typically retains an attorney to initiate a probate proceeding on his or her behalf. In such a case, the executor is the attorney’s client.

Jonathan Craig Reed

The lawyer representing the executor does not represent any other beneficiary. The lawyer has certain duties of fair dealing with the other beneficiaries, but in any kind of dispute with the outcome of the dispute not known, the other beneficiaries need their own lawyer.#N#More

Sharon M. Siegel

First, the attorney does not represent the beneficiaries. Sometimes, this is okay because the intersts of the beneficiaries are the same. Here, your interests are not the same. You should consult with your own lawyer.

Steven M Zelinger

Ms. Reed offers a good answer. The attorney represents the executor and will be acting to protect the executor's interests (to keep beneficiaries from suing, etc.). If beneficiaries have questions or need advice it is advisable to have a separate attorney...

Celia R Reed

The attorney represents the estate and the executor. He has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of the estate, but does not represent the beneficiaries. Given the number of questions you have about estate administration and disposition of the co-op, you would be well-served by a consultation with your own probate attorney.

Does an attorney represent an estate?

The attorney does not represent the estate separately, nor does the attorney represent the estate beneficiaries. The attorney, of course, cannot participate in any illegal, fraudulent, or unethical behavior in the course of the attorney's representation.

Is an estate an entity?

You have touched off quite the debate, with your question, and it can be seen as a distinction without difference. But the estate is an entity, and an entity does not hire an attorney; a person does. That person is the personal representative. The client is the personal representative.

Who represents the estate in probate?

In a probate matter, the estate’s attorney generally represents the Personal Representative, in his or her fiduciary capacity. What does that really mean? That means that the lawyer works with the Personal Representative so long as that person is acting in the estate’s best interest.

What is lawyer time?

A lawyer’s time is considered an expense involving estate administration. In Washington, these expenses are prioritized ahead of any estate distributions to the beneficiaries. In other words, the beneficiaries may think their constant contact with ...

Is a lawyer a fiduciary?

Since, again, the lawyer represents a fiduciary and must seek to act in the estate’s best interest, often it is in the estate’s best interest if the lawyer does not communicate excessively with the beneficiaries. Otherwise, one problematic beneficiary can unfairly reduce the other beneficiaries’ distributions.