Probate Administration

Probate Administration is a legal process that addresses disposition and distribution of a deceased’s estate. It begins with a petition to open the estate and name a personal representative. The personal representative is either an executor (if the deceased died testate, that is with a Will) or an administrator (if the person died intestate, that is, without a Will).

The representative is responsible distributing the deceased’s property. After the personal representative is appointed, the creditors are notified by an official Notice of Creditors which is printed in a local newspaper and Notice of Administration is sent to other involved parties.

Creditors then have a certain time period during which they may file their claims. Once the creditors make their claims, the personal representative may pay whatever debts are owed.

After that, the representative distributes the remaining estate. Finally, a petition for discharge is filed, and the estate is closed.

We are available to assist you with the following aspects of estate and trust administration:

• Probate administration, with or without a will.
• Filing will allowances, appointments of fiduciaries, inventories, and accounts with the Probate Court.
• Gathering assets, paying valid debts, and avoiding invalid claims.
• Trust administration for living trusts or testamentary trusts.
• Filing estate tax returns and properly paying taxes.
• Properly distributing assets.