Estate Administration
I assist family members, administrators, executors, and trustees through the legal procedures that must be administered when someone dies before assets pass to heirs & beneficiaries:
- Probate, if there is a Will, or there was not a Will or a Trust
- Trust Administration, if there was a Revocable Living Trust
Probate:
If your loved had a Will, or had no Will or Trust, distribution of their estate must be confirmed by the Probate Court before the inheritance can be passed to heirs & beneficiaries. The probate process involves many steps and can seem overwhelming. I assist the executor or administrator handle all aspects of probate:
- Admit the Will to probate court; resolve Will contests.
- Comply with notice laws to all interested parties.
- Locate and collect all assets; re-title assets; obtain property valuations or appraisals if necessary.
- Evaluate creditors' claims for payment; challenge and litigate creditors' claims where necessary; pay valid debts.
- At the conclusion, distribute remaining assets in accordance with the Will or statutory intestate laws (when there is no Will); re-title assets in the name of the beneficiaries; implement and administer trusts for minors, individuals with special needs, and other beneficiaries, if necessary.
Please visit the Estate Planning & Administration FAQ page for more information.
Trust Administration:
While a properly created and funded trust may enable a family to avoid probate, it is still necessary to carry out the terms of the trust. Trust administration involves management of assets in a trust as well as carrying out the terms of the trust:
- Notice to heirs and all trust beneficiaries.
- Identify and collect all assets within the trust. When necessary, obtain property valuations and appraisals.
- Create, fund, and administer Sub-Trusts called for by the Trust.
- Prepare trust accounting in compliance with statutory requirements.
Please visit the Estate Planning & Administration FAQ page for more information.
Contact Information
Please contact me to schedule a free initial consultation at (541) 686-2634, or by email at mstylos@stylos-law.com. I look forward to hearing from you.