Dealing with loss is never easy, but facing the loss of a loved one can be even more challenging if the deceased did not leave behind a clear estate plan to settle pressing legal issues. Without a proper estate plan, the property will likely go through probate.

Probate is a court-supervised process where the assets of the deceased are divided and distributed to heirs. The court process determines the validity of a will and oversees the payment of creditors as well as the distribution of assets.  It is important to understand no estate will avoid probate.  All wills go through the probate process; the assets in a trust do not. A properly structured estate plan can greatly simply and streamline the process of disbursing and estate and will save time, money and headaches.

Estates without a trust or will also go through the probate process but usually take significantly more time and assets will be distributed according to state law.  However, even in these cases, an experienced probate attorney can help navigate the probate process as efficiently as possible.  Knowledge of probate law is especially important to ensure expenses are minimized and any advantages provided by law are utilized.

At The Law Office of Robin L. Kaiser, LLC, our probate attorneys understand how difficult it is to deal with legal issues while also coping with the loss of a loved one. Our goal is to take charge of the legal process, honoring your wishes and needs through every step of the legal process. We are estate planning educators, which means our attorneys are extremely familiar with the ins and outs of wills, probate, trusts and elder law. We can provide you with the legal guidance and information you need to make smart, informed decisions. With more than 15 years of legal experience, we are confident we can help you.