Understanding Probate And Estate Administration
Many people don’t know where to begin when it comes time to settle the estate of a loved one who has passed away. It is important to seek out the help of a lawyer with experience in probate and estate administration. I am attorney Sarah Bootes Shattuck, and I have been practicing law for more than 35 years. Most of my career has been spent helping people prepare for the future through estate planning and ease transitions through probate and estate administration. I know that these processes can be confusing, and I understand what my clients are going through. When you are my client, I help you understand the principles of probate and estate administration, and I work hard to make the process work for you.
What Is Probate?
Probate is the broadly encompassing term for the legal process of transferring a person’s property after they pass away. A probate court must oversee the process to make sure that the transfer is made according to the law, but the court’s level of involvement can vary greatly, depending on the circumstances. If the person passed away without an estate plan, the court has to track down relatives and distribute property according to state guidelines. This process takes time and money, and can lead to results that the deceased person would not have wanted.
Estate Administration Outside Of Probate Court
If the person left a valid estate plan and appointed a personal representative (also known as an executor), the probate court is typically less involved in the process of settling the estate. Instead, the executor is in charge of inventorying the estate, paying off debts, and distributing property to heirs and beneficiaries. This is detail-oriented work, and many people who are appointed as executors have no special training in how to do the job. I help executors and others to administer estates, working hard to make the process as smooth as possible for them and their families.
Get Started
Probate and estate administration take time, and there are deadlines and roadblocks along the way. Get started settling your loved one’s estate by calling my office today at 620-293-0125. You can also send an email. Shattuck Law Office, LLC, is in Ashland, Kansas, with a secondary office in Greensburg and represents clients throughout western Kansas.