When a loved one passes on, it can be a very stressful and sad time. You may be the one that is responsible for taking care of everything, and it can truly be a huge job. There are lawyers that have been through a great deal of school to help you when this time comes. There are many different aspects that a probate lawyer will be able to help you with. This article is going to go over just a few different things that a probate lawyer can help you with.
Debts
A very important aspect that a probate lawyer can help you out with is helping you know how to pay any of the decedents bills or debts. Hopefully this does not end up coming down to being on your shoulders, but a probate lawyer will be able to figure out what is the best way to go about paying off these different bills and debts. Often if the individual has assets, they will be appraised and if need be they will be sold off so the proceeds can be used to pay off these different debts. Having a probate lawyer assist you in finding the best way to pay for this is a great help.
Securing All Assets
Once any debts or bills have been paid, a probate lawyer can then help you locate and secure all the assets of the descendant. This can take a very long time because there may be a lot of different assets to go over. Life insurance, properties, and many other type of assets are all going to have to be located and secured. However, once they are located and secured you will have a very detailed record of all the assets that you are responsible for.
Distribution
Once everything is located and appraised, you now know all assets and can start to distribute the assets the way that the descendant wanted. The probate lawyer can help you in this endeavor because it can get a little bit complicated. Even though some assets may be a gift, it is possible that the one receiving the asset may have to pay taxes on that gift. The probate lawyer will be able to be there to walk you through every step of the way, and make sure that everything is distributed the exact way that the will says. You will have a lot of help through this process.
Talk with an attorney like David R Webb Attorney for more help.
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