Is It Really Necessary to Have an Estate Administration Lawyer?

Is It Really Necessary to…

Probate and estate administration is the court process used to distribute a deceased person’s assets. Part of the administration process involves creating an inventory of all estate assets, paying debts and final expenses, and distributing the remaining assets to family members and other heirs of the deceased. If you become responsible for a loved one’s estate, an estate administration lawyer can help you perform these tasks, and more, depending on your needs.

There are a number of reasons why it is essential to have a Michigan estate administration lawyer. First, an estate administration lawyer can help you avoid mistakes in the administration process. He or she can ensure that you account for all probate assets and also adequately deal with non-probate assets that must be distributed outside of the probate process. If you are not familiar with the ins and outs of the estate administration process, you are more likely to make mistakes, which can complicate matters and draw out the probate process. An attorney also can help you becoming personally liable in any way for the deceased person’s debts. Plus, attorney’s fees are paid out of the estate, so you are not responsible for paying an attorney to administer the estate.

Estates also can be complex, particularly when the deceased person’s intentions are unclear, assets are omitted from the will, or there is a dispute among the heirs about whom should inherit what assets. In some cases, an heir might choose to contest the will, perhaps based on allegations that the deceased was incompetent to execute a will or was unduly influenced by another heir or individual who stood to benefit from the will. If the estate administration goes in one of these directions, you will need the assistance of an estate administration lawyer in order to sort things out and represent the estate in court, if needed.

When you are dealing with the death of a loved one, the last thing that you need is to attempt to handle your loved one’s estate on your own. If you are in this situation, you need an attorney who can provide you with legal advice and representation in any estate administration matters. At Legacy Law Center, our Ann Arbor elder law attorneys can help you through any situations that may arise as you experience the death of a loved one.

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