As a personal
representative or executor of a testator who recently passed on, you
have a lot of responsibilities on your hands. These include ensuring
that all of a decedent’s assets are protected and properly
inventoried, paying all taxes and debts, and making sure that the
named beneficiaries receive their rightful part of the inheritance.
All of this can be overwhelming, especially if you are
court-appointed and not ready for the duties of the position.
This is where probate
attorneys come in. Their job is to guide an executor through the
entire process, helping them every step of the way. This is a great
help because the probate process depends on the laws of the state and
those unfamiliar with the provision of the laws can easily make
mistakes.
Another factor that
affects the process is if the deceased has a valid or up to date last
will and testament. Such document determines what assets are
considered probate and non-probate, which likewise determine whether
they are taxed or not.
Knowledge of the law is
not just the only thing probate attorneys can provide. Being an
executor of an estate is a lot of work. Executors are expected to
prepare all the documentation for the estate, as well as spend some
time in court for the probate hearing. For busy people, it may be
more convenient to just hire a probate lawyer to handle most of the
work.
