Probate [OLD, FOR REFERENCE ONLY]

Input essential details, such as the deceased’s full name, date of death, and list of assets, necessary for the attorney to evaluate the deceased person’s estate.

Estate analysis involves the attorney’s thorough review of the information gathered from the client and relevant legal documents to map out the required legal actions, potential issues, and optimal strategies to achieve the client’s objectives concerning the deceased person’s assets.

Opening the estate is the formal legal process that involves filing the necessary paperwork with the appropriate probate court to gain the legal authority to administer the deceased person’s assets and settle his or her debts.

Administering the estate involves executing the legal and financial tasks required to manage and distribute the deceased’s assets according to the will or state law, which may include paying off debts, selling property, and allocating inheritance to beneficiaries.

Obtain court authority to sell estate assets usually by filing a petition or motion with the probate court and providing justifications for the sale, after which the court may issue an order granting permission to sell specific assets like real estate or valuable personal property.

Closing the estate is the final step in the probate process, involving the settlement of all remaining financial obligations, distribution of assets to beneficiaries as per the will or state law, and filing of closing documents with the court to terminate the legal responsibilities of the estate’s administrator or executor.