Chapel Hill Trust Administration & Probate
If your family has experienced the loss of a family member, our Estate Administration Lawyers can assist you. Our guiding principle is to provide families with quality Trust Administration and Probate services tailored to each client’s specific needs and goals. This can be a difficult, confusing and stressful time. We can help.
Probate
Steps to Take with a Will – Estate Administration
If your loved one had a will, the family will go through probate, a court-administered process designed to manage the transfer of assets and payment of creditors. Probate, also referred to as estate administration, is designed to ensure that the individual’s debts are paid, the surviving spouse’s rights are protected, and that the property is distributed in accordance with the terms of the will. In estate planning, our Estate Administration Attorneys endeavor to avoid exposure to probate as much as possible, primarily because exposing the assets to the court increasing cost, adds administrative burden, and often delays distribution of assets. This helpful checklist includes some suggested Steps To Take When A Loved One Passes Away With A Will.
Here are a few additional articles that may be of interest:
- 5 Things You Need to Do Immediately If You Are the Executor
- Why an Executor Should Hire a Probate Lawyer
- What Executors Must Know About the Probate Process
Trust Administration
Steps to Take with a Living Trust
We often plan to avoid exposure to probate through the use of a Revocable Living Trust. If your loved one has a living trust, the family will go through trust administration, a process not overseen by the court nor entered into the public record. In trust administration, the trustee ensures the debts are paid, the terms of the trust are followed and property is distributed properly according to the instructions the creator of the trust (and his or her lawyer) set out in the legal document. This handy, informative checklist outlines suggested Steps To Take When A Loved One Passes Away With A Trust.
More helpful information:
- Trust Administration Explained
- 10 Estate Planning Tips to Help You Create a Successful Plan
- How Do I Discuss Estate Planning with My Aging Parents?
IMPORTANT NOTE: Don’t Retitle Anything Yet!
Do not retitle any assets before speaking with a qualified estate planning attorney. That meeting should take place approximately two weeks after your loved one has passed. Sometimes, the family will want to meet earlier. We are happy to accommodate this.
Do You Need Help with Probate & Trust Administration?
Get in Touch with a Clarity Legal Group Attorney in Chapel Hill NC
The Probate and Trust Administration doesn’t need to stress you out. Let our experienced and valued estate planning attorneys at Clarity Legal Group help you find the way through the process. Conveniently located in Chapel Hill, we are here to answer your probate / trust administration questions and assist you during this difficult time. Please contact us online or call us at 919-484-0012
