3 Invaluable Services Of A Probate Attorney
Experiencing the death of a loved one is hard enough without all of the complicated issues that sometimes arise as a result. More often than not, one of the most difficult things relatives find themselves stuck with is the execution of a will and how exactly it relates to the estate of the deceased. For help in this matter, having a probate attorney by your side is invaluable. Read on below to discover three services offered by probate attorneys that can help you navigate the post-mortem legal maze.
Verification of the Will
In the event that the deceased person had a living will, a probate attorney can verify the authenticity of the will and testify to its power as a legal document. This official legal verification is something that is especially valuable in cases where a party not named as a beneficiary of the estate disputes the legality of the will or any of its contents.
Legal Supervision of the Will's Execution
Even if the will is shown to be an authentic document, there are still numerous instances in which parties or beneficiaries stated in the will disagree about specific terms. These terms can include the payment of debt to various creditors, as well as the division of the estate or other assets. One of the primary reasons people hire a probate attorney is so that these kinds of disagreements can be handled professionally, in a way that ensures the estate's designated representative executes the will in accordance with the wishes of the deceased. Simply knowing that the process is supervised by an impartial party goes a long way toward achieving peace of mind.
Forum for Disputes
Sometimes, even when a will has been verified as a legally binding document and the execution of said will is overseen by a third party, things can get ugly. When the assets of a large estate are divided among several people, legal matters can get especially convoluted, and without a probate attorney, resolution might seem impossible. Luckily, hiring a probate lawyer gives you access to a private forum for settling internal disputes, in which a judge can order certain parties to execute the will as written, and hold them legally responsible for their actions if they refuse. If you're in the middle of resolving a similar long-standing conflict after the death of a loved one, contact a probate attorney today to help speed up the process.