• Estate Planning
• Living Wills / Simple Wills
• Trusts
• Guardianship
• Power of Attorney
• Estate Administration
• Probate Administration
• Trust Administration
• Estate & Trust Tax Prep.
• Pet Trusts

Estate Administration

When an individual dies, certain assets of the decedent (non-probate) may be transferred by contract, such as joint and survivorship property, payable on death accounts, transfer on death property, and most life insurance and retirement benefits. Other assets (probate) may be transferred through proceedings in Probate Court. Most persons die owning both probate and non-probate assets, all of which generally require some type of documentation to complete the transfer. There are advantages and disadvantages in using non-probate or probate proceedings. It is prudent to consult an attorney to determine the best manner in which to hold one's assets.

It is the Probate Court's responsibility to ensure the probate assets are collected, maintained, and distributed among the decedent's heirs, beneficiaries, and/or creditors according to the direction of the decedent as express wishes. This process is known as the administration of a decedent's estate.