Orlando Probate Attorney
Probate is the process for administering an estate when someone dies. Everyone leaves behind at least a few assets, as well as possibly unpaid bills. Probate is an orderly process for paying off debts, submitting tax returns, and handling other administrative tasks. At the end of probate, your estate assets are transferred to your heirs or beneficiaries. All told, probate can take a year to complete.
Give Roland Cutler, P.A. a call if you have questions about probate. Many of our clients were named as the personal representative in a loved one’s will. They now have no clue about how to get started. They are intimidated by the process and need answers to their questions. An Orlando probate attorney with our law firm can help you navigate the process. You have come to the right place.
Can You Avoid Probate?
Possibly. We have seen probate take more than a year for some clients, which is a long time to wait to finally inherit assets from the deceased. In our experience, fewer than half of all estates need the “full” probate process, which involves:
- Collecting and safekeeping all estate assets, while providing an accounting to the court;
- Valuing assets by having them appraised;
- Paying creditor claims and possibly defending the estate against lawsuits;
- Bringing litigation on behalf of the estate;
- Defending the estate against disappointed heirs ;
- Liquidating assets to pay taxes and debts;
- Distributing assets to beneficiaries.
Instead, you might be able to use a summary administration procedure if the estate’s value does not exceed $75,000 or the deceased has been dead for two years. If you meet one of these requirements, then summary administration is a real possibility and much faster.
In other cases, you might use disposition of personal property without administration. This process is reserved for very small estates which have only exempted personal property or where funeral or medical bills will consume any available estate assets. For example, an elderly sister could die with only a 15-year-old vehicle and the meager furnishings in her apartment. Her funeral costs $15,000, which is more than the value of her estate assets. In situations like these, you can pursue disposition without administration and avoid full probate.
Our Orlando Probate Attorneys Can Help
Our law firm has served the Orlando community for decades. We can help you identify if full probate is needed, or if you can use a different method, like summary administration. Our firm can also complete all paperwork and appear in court on your behalf.
We also advise personal representatives who are tasked with shepherding the estate through probate. You have important legal duties—and you might be liable for any mistakes you make. That means that angry family members could sue if you don’t protect the value of estate assets or inadvertently sell something you shouldn’t. Do you have questions about your job duties as the estate’s representative? Get thorough legal advice today from an Orlando probate attorney at our firm. We can help you adequately discharge your duties.
