Find a Probate Attorney

So, who needs a probate attorney?

By far, the most common reason to consult with a good estate planning attorney who specializes in probate is if you think you have been appointed the executor of a will and/or administrator of an estate.

The reason is that if the estate needs to go through probate, the executor will need to talk to a probate expert – an experienced probate attorney. Some of the issues to discuss include:

The validity of the will
Whether you have been properly appointed as executor of the will
Duties as executor of the will and/or administrator of any estate or trustee of a trust
Whether any income, estate or probate taxes must be paid
Whether any assets are held by a living trust
Which beneficiaries will get which assets
Whether any gifts must be distributed
How to handle the disposition of real estate (especially out of state real estate)
How to locate certain assets such as retirement, business, insurance, and investment assets
Possible executor liability for negligence
Possible executor indemnity for alleged bad acts
And many other issues

I would advise at least talking with a probate attorney before beginning to probate an estate. Yes, you technically could do it all yourself. And, in fact, you might decide to do that. But, at least talk with a probate professional first – at least to see if there are any issues you should know about (that you don’t already).

A small consultation fee is a small price to pay for the peace of mind you will receive. And, it could save you a lot more than peace of mind. Here's more about probate attorney fees.

The best way to find a good probate attorney is to talk to friends or associates who have used one or know of one and get a referral to a local probate attorney. But, if that doesn’t work, be sure to check out Legal Match. Here’s the link to them:

Here are links to information about specific State Probate Attorneys:

Here's a good resource for a personal injurylawyer search. You'll find Law related and health related articles with a free personal injury lawyer directory. And, if you have probate questions you might wonder what a trustee or executor should do after a death.

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--by Beth Heikkinen
Marquette, Michigan

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