Do you need help with the probate process?

Probate

Losing a loved one is never easy. The strong emotions that come with that are hard enough as is. Then add on all of the financial and legal steps one must take to settle their affairs, and overwhelming is an understatement. 

The idea of probate can be confusing, especially if you have never dealt with it before. In essence, probate is the legal process of dealing with the financial affairs of a person after they have passed away. During probate, if there is a will, the court can deem it valid, at which point property will be distributed in the manner specified in the will. Even though setting up a will takes a small portion of time, having one in place will make probate move forward significantly quicker!

At Safe Harbor Wills & Trusts, we know how intimidating probate can be, but understanding how the process works and having expert legal advice at your disposal will make matters much easier for everyone involved. Please do not hesitate to call the Syracuse or Watertown offices of Safe Harbor Wills & Trusts with any questions or concerns. We are available to help you around the clock, 24/7.

Estate Administration

If you do not leave a will, probate becomes much more time-consuming and expensive for your beneficiaries. Without a will, the court will appoint an executor (usually a family member) who will be responsible for creating lists of properties and debts, having properties appraised, paying taxes and debts, and eventually distributing what is left to other beneficiaries. This is called estate administration.

As you can see, not having a will can lead to a much longer, much more painful process for the people you leave behind. Not only will it take much longer for them to receive their inheritance, but because your desires haven’t been recorded, it is possible that your family and friends could fight over your money and material goods.

Whether you need help during probate or you need assistance with estate administration, please do not hesitate to call the Syracuse or Watertown offices of Safe Harbor Wills & Trusts with any questions or concerns.

Trust Administration

Administering a trust involves overseeing assets for someone else when they are unable to do so themselves. In most cases, this means upon someone’s death. A trust administrator’s goal is to distribute the assets to beneficiaries according to the terms of the trust while complying with state and federal laws. Unlike probate proceedings, trust administration allows for the simple distribution of property to beneficiaries without the court’s involvement.

There are several steps to properly administer a trust, and we are here to help facilitate the process to keep trust assets out of probate court and to have your assets go where you want them to.