Probate Law and Litigation

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Probate is the court process for distributing certain assets of someone who has died.  Things like bank accounts, real property, etc. will require probate unless alternative estate plans were made while the person was still alive.

A probate can be contested (people are fighting about things) or uncontested (no fighting).  A probate case follows a timeline and that timeline can have somewhat rigid deadlines for tasks to be completed.

Generally, the probate process requires that 

1) a person is appointed to represent the estate 

2) that person collects estate assets and notifies interested parties

3) debts and expenses of the estate are paid

4) remaining assets of the estate are distributed to authorized people, and 

5) the probate is closed.  An uncontested probate can easily last 6 months, while a contested probate could last a year or more.

While people can handle a probate case without the assistance of an attorney, the process is technical and can be overwhelming.  We can help.