What does an Estate Lawyer do?
Katie McInerney can help you and your loved ones with a variety of legal services and issues that help protect your assets for the people who matter most to you. A comprehensive estate plan can involve one or more of the following:
- Living Wills & Trusts
- Revocable & Irrevocable Trusts
- Power of Attorney
- Amendments & Modifications
- Asset Protection
- Wealth Preservation
In addition to these services, we also handle:
- Probate
- Intestate succession
- Guardianships
- Corporate Matters
- Real Estate
What is Probate?
Probate is the legal process through which a deceased individual’s beneficiaries receive their assets. It also guarantees that the deceased individual’s outstanding debts and taxes are paid off using funds from their estate. In short, it is a court process used to oversee the “tying up” of any matters that need to be resolved after an individual’s passing. The probate process is lengthy and very court-process heavy. We can assist you with managing this process including: handling all court appearances, probate filings, public notices, assigning an “Executor” (or “Representative”) and also contesting any claims against the estate from creditors or family members.
Not each estate goes through the probate process after someone passes. Specific assets are not subject to division through probate and in specific circumstances, it is not necessary. Additionally, decedents who have established a comprehensive estate plan with a living trust and/or will while they were alive may allow their loved ones to avoid probate altogether.