All of us want to avoid thinking about the death of our loved ones. Well, sadly it is an inevitable event, and all of us have to prepare for the same in one way or another. If you think it this way, one thing you can do to make things easier for your family after you pass is to have a well-drafted Will in place. This will leave no doubts about what you want to be done to your assets after you die, and who you want to be in charge of handling the probate.
However, even if you make the best plans, at some point you will need some legal assistance. A law firm like the Law Office of Troy M. Moore PLLC has the necessary experience in handling probate cases. They have been in the legal market for 19 years now, and thus no case is confusing or puzzling for them anymore. So, if you are thinking of a probate lawyer, consider them.
When should you hire a probate lawyer?
If you are given the responsibility of handling the probate of a deceased person, it is best to involve a probate attorney right away. You will have questions for sure, and your probate attorney will answer them. Besides, if the estate is larger, the case will be more complex, and impossible to handle without proper legal support.
However, if you have done this before, and are thinking of handling it all by yourself this time, simply ask the below-mentioned questions yourself:
- Is the estate larger than what I have handled before?
- Is there real property like a house or office involved?
- Are there any disputes on the property?
- Are the assets enough to pay the debts?
- Are there any disputes amongst the beneficiaries?
- Will there be a need to file state or federal estate tax returns?
- Will it be possible to distribute the estate without involving a probate attorney and court?
If you are getting complicated answers to the questions, then it is a cue that you need a probate attorney by your side. If you want, you can even hire an attorney for guidance rather than representing you completely.
What can a probate attorney do?
A probate attorney will mainly advise you concerning any issues of an estate administration. However, you can hire them to help you with the following:
- Transferring assets and real estate amongst the beneficiaries
- Paying any outstanding debts
- Collecting the claim amount from life insurance companies
- Handling any unresolved tax issue
- Preparing and submitting all the legal paperwork to the probate court
Charges of a probate attorney
Different probate attorneys charge their fees differently. For instance, on an hourly basis, based on a flat rate, or in any other way. However, on average, the charge is between 1 to 7 percent of the estate value. In most cases, the charges are around $2,000 to $10,000.
Lastly, keep in mind that handling probate will not be easy. So, instead of doing all the hard work yourself, it is best to consult an experienced probate attorney for legal matters.
