How Can A St. Petersburg Probate Administration Lawyer Help?
Probate is a legal process that is often necessary after a person passes away. If there is a will, the probate process will validate it before distributing the decedent’s estate in the appropriate manner. Probate can take anywhere from a couple of months to over a year, and the length of time really depends on the complexity of the estate in question. The probate process involves many procedures, processes, and deadlines. These can become complicated and feel overwhelming, particularly during a time of grief. A St. Petersburg probate lawyer can be of invaluable help throughout it.
What Does a Probate Lawyer Do?
Probate lawyers generally focus on estate planning and probate. They have the necessary experience to coordinate with the personal representative to manage the estate during probate and ensure property is distributed properly to the beneficiaries.
The majority of property owned by a decedent is subject to the probate process, including real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, jewelry, and other types of personal property. The only exceptions are property that are considered non-probate assets such as financial accounts with designated beneficiaries, trust assets, and property held in joint tenancy or tenancy by the entirety. Administering an estate and distributing property to beneficiaries in accordance with Florida law can be a complicated process. Having the help of a St. Petersburg probate lawyer can prove to be invaluable.
How a St. Petersburg Probate Lawyer Can Help You
Probate is a complicated and time-consuming process, and it often comes at a time when you are grieving a loss and trying to focus on moving forward. An attorney can make the probate process easier on you and remove a lot of the stress associated with the process. Your attorney’s knowledge of the court system and state law can ensure no mistakes are made that will delay the administration of the estate.
Your lawyer can determine who has a right to the estate, whether it is through a will or Florida’s intestate laws, and ensure that property is properly distributed and transferred. In Florida, it is generally required that you are represented in a probate administration. The lawyer ensures the Florida Probate Rules are followed and helps the personal representative of the estate with the following tasks:
- Determining the taxes of the estate and ensuring they are paid,
- Identifying all estate property and creating an inventory,
- Creating and managing a bank account for the estate,
- Paying creditors and any final bills of the estate,
- Ordering necessary appraisals for certain types of property such as jewelry, real estate, and art collections, and
- Distributing property to the beneficiaries and ensuring assets are retitled.
Call Our Probate Lawyer in St. Petersburg Today
If you have lost a loved one and are now facing the probate process, you need help from a St. Petersburg probate lawyer. At Legacy Protection Lawyers, LLP, our experienced attorneys can help you navigate the process and make it as easy as possible for you and your family. Call us today at 727-471-5868 or contact us online to request a consultation and to get more information.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0733/0733ContentsIndex.html
