Estate Planning - Probate
Wills are administered through the courts once a person has passed away. A common misconception is that Wills are not probated. Wills must go through the probate process. The only exceptions are if the person who passed away is married and all assets are held in joint names with a spouse or other person, or if the assets are non probate assets. The court process is not necessarily a long or expensive process. If the Will is valid, drafted by an attorney, assets of the decedent are known, there is no litigation due to creditor claims or other type of claims, and total assets are under $1,000,000.00 probate administration can be completed between six to nine months. Our office has closed estates in excess of $1,000,000.00 in 9 months to a year. During the probate process bills of the deceased are paid and support for the children and the spouse can also be paid.