If someone in your family recently passed away, you may need to hire a probate attorney, who is a lawyer who specializes in finalizing a deceased person’s estate. These attorneys generally work on the administrative tasks involved in closing an estate, although some also specialize in representing a party involved in a dispute over the decedent’s property.

There are different ways to find a lawyer, such as asking family or friends who they recommend, searching for lawyers in the area online, or doing a phone book search. Many attorneys offer a wealth of information online and as such reading their links can be extremely beneficial.

Although it is necessary to get started on these matters quickly, it is very important to take the time to conduct a brief interview. In an interview, your general questions will be answered, you will be given a schedule and associated costs will be indicated.

An interview allows the family to choose someone they feel comfortable with and helps ensure that things move along quickly. There are different things that can be learned about a lawyer before they are hired by doing this interview in person, as well as asking for references and checking their status with the state bar.

Some of the general duties of a probate attorney include filing all necessary paperwork with the court, making a complete list of assets and property in the estate, listing all expenses included, and distributing all remaining assets of the decedent to the appropriate person. heirs

There may be times when an inheritance is disputed. Some reasons a dispute may occur include an heir who feels they did not receive property or funds to which they were entitled, a will or trust exists but has uncertain terms listed, or when there is no trust or will that specify how the assets are to be divided among the surviving heirs.

If the cost of hiring a probate attorney is an issue, sometimes you can save money by doing some of the work for the attorney. A family member can often take on the responsibility of preparing the list of assets and liabilities, compiling all of the life insurance information, and keeping track of all expenses paid at closing the estate to save money.

While this is probably a very stressful and sad time for those involved, it is important to hire a probate attorney quickly, as this will help take some of the pressure off of grief and will also help ensure that everything is resolved quickly and safely. correct.

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