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2024

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Best Probate Lawyers in Wilmington

Our Recommended Top 19

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Wilmington Probate Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

34Reviewed

28Curated

19Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

2711 Centerville Rd Suite #401,, Wilmington, DE 19808

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Review Sources

Google
4.1 (9)

Why choose this provider?

Baird Mandalas Brockstedt Federico & Cardea LLC provides legal services for clients in Wilmington. The firm's practice includes various aspects of estate planning, estate administration, business succession planning, and fiduciary advice and litigation. It also represents clients in disputes involving guardianships, will contests, will and trust interpretation, and breaches of fiduciary duties. It seeks to deliver individualized focus on its client's legal matters. Kevin M. Baird, the managing partner, is admitted to practice in the United States Court of Appeals For the Federal Circuit.

  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Philip Federico - PartnerActive41 yrs

1521 Concord Pike Suite 301, Wilmington, DE 19803

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Facebook
4.8 (65)

Why choose this provider?

Parkway Law offers its services in Wilmington and the surrounding areas. It walks clients through the probate process, including identifying and making an inventory of the estate's assets, appraising properties, paying taxes and debts, and distributing the remaining assets to the intended beneficiaries. Its lawyers also help preserve clients' wealth through estate planning strategies, such as drafting general powers of attorney, advanced healthcare directives, and business succession planning. One of the partners, Dominic Balascio, has been in the legal practice since 2002.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Dominic Balascio - PrincipalActive22 yrs

2710 Centerville Road, Suite 101, Wilmington, DE 19808

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Google
4.3 (22)
Facebook
5.0 (5)
FindLaw
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Poole, Mensinger Cutrona & Ellsworth-Aults Attorneys at Law, is a Delaware law firm headquartered in Wilmington. Among its focus areas are estate planning and probate. Its principal partner, Jennifer Ellsworth-Aults, provides assistance in all areas of probate, including determining whether full probate is needed, recording the will with the Register of Wills office and preparing the necessary paperwork, and assisting in filing life insurance claims. In addition to Delaware, Jennifer is also admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

  • Estate Planning

3513 Concord Pike, Suite 3300, Wilmington, DE 19803
Website

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Google
4.5 (20)
Avvo
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Kollias Law provides clients in Wilmington with resolutions of probate and estate planning matters. It helps clients plan out medical care through powers of attorney, along with asset security and division in preparation for a client's death. It also assists in handling finances, paying bills, and distributing assets to beneficiaries. The firm's services aim to address any issues that may affect the process, such as asset freeze, probate court, and living expenses during property disposition. Lead attorney Basil Kollias is also licensed in New Jersey.

  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Administration

3711 Kennett Pike, Suite 110, Wilmington, DE 19807

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4.7 (26)
Avvo
5.0 (7)

Why choose this provider?

The Delaware Elder Law Center works with clients in Wilmington who need help with acquiring disability protection, preserving wealth, and distributing assets. It handles probate matters and works with individuals in creating estate planning strategies. It furnishes various documents, including revocable trusts, wills, advanced healthcare directives, and general durable powers of attorney. The firm's principal attorney, W. Wade W. Scott, also takes on elder law cases and is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. He has been in legal practice since 1984.

  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
W Scott - PrincipalActive39 yrs

1105 North Market Street Suite 901, Wilmington, DE 19801
Website

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Facebook
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Cross and Simon LLC is a law firm serving Wilmington. Its associates represent parties in probate matters and estate disputes, including the interest of beneficiaries, personal representatives, executors, and trustees. These issues include the transfer and title of assets, removal of trustees, and will contest. Its lawyers also volunteer in pro bono activities, such as working with U.S. military members whose homes are subject to mortgage foreclosure proceedings and serving as guardian ad litem to represent children in the Delaware Family Court.

  • Wills
  • Trust Administration

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Christopher Simon - PartnerActive26 yrs

2961 Centerville Road, Wilmington, DE 19808

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Review Sources

Google
4.7 (13)

Why choose this provider?

Estate & Elder Law Services is a law firm consisting of estate planning and probate attorneys that serve individuals in the Wilmington area. They have years of experience in handling various probate cases, as well as issues that involve powers of attorney, trusts, and wills. They also offer legal services in matters that revolve around a decedent's estate, which include estate tax issues. Estate & Elder Law Services also provides assistance to elderly individuals in accessing Medicaid and veterans benefits.

  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning
  • Estate Taxes

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
William Erhart - PrincipalActive42 yrs

521 North West Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
Website

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Review Sources

Google
5.0 (2)
Avvo
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Minster & Facciolo, LLC, provides legal services to individuals in Wilmington and the nearby metros. It assists clients in estate planning processes, creating living wills and powers of attorney, and discussing tax consequences on estate decisions. It also handles family, traffic, and criminal law cases. In addition, the firm provides small business counseling. The lead attorneys, Carl J. Minster ⅠⅠⅠ and David J.J. Facciolo, established the LGBTQ-friendly law firm together. They have been partners in law and life for nearly two decades.

  • Estate Planning

3801 Kennett Pike Greenville Center, Wilmington, DE 19807
Website

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Google
4.8 (5)
Avvo
3.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Copeland Taylor Harpell, LLC, is a law firm that works closely with individuals and families in Wilmington and the surrounding communities. It offers legal assistance on matters that involve family law, real estate, and wills. The firm has been serving since 2018, assisting clients in preparing wills, powers of attorneys, and advanced health care directives. The firm also offers personalized legal counsel. Andrew Taylor, one of its lawyers, works with clients to draft documents according to their objectives and needs.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

14 West Market Street, Newport, DE 19804
Website

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Why choose this provider?

Tomasetti Law, LLC is a firm offering personalized legal solutions to clients in Wilmington in the areas of probate administration, estate planning, and real estate law. The firm's attorneys, Raymond E. Tomasetti, Jr. and Charles T. Armbruster III, have 40 years of combined experience helping clients determine their deceased loved ones' rightful estate beneficiaries. When disputes arise, both Tomasetti and Armbruster are prepared to provide estate litigation services. Tomasetti was named as one of the top lawyers in Delaware by Delaware Today.

  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

3801 Kennett Pike, Greenville, DE 19807

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Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (3)
Facebook
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Kevin A. O’Brien is a family-owned firm that serves clients in Wilmington and surrounding areas. Father-and-son probate attorneys Kevin O’Brien and Paul O’Brien help individuals and families with the entire probate process, including thoughtful accounting of all the decedent's properties, locating missing assets, identifying the right heirs, paying the necessary debts and taxes, and proper distribution of assets. The Law Office of Kevin A. O’Brien also practices in estate planning and special needs trusts.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Kevin O'Brien - PrincipalActive43 yrs

1201 N. Orange Street Suite 500, Wilmington, DE 19801
Website

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Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (12)

Why choose this provider?

Serving the Wilmington area, The Powell Firm, LLC, provides legal counsel for probate matters. It offers a wide range of services in elder law and litigation, including estate planning, Medicaid planning, and estate administration. It also helps in the creation of trusts, advanced health care directives, and powers of attorney. The firm's managing partner, Jason C. Powell, has been practicing law since 1998. He focuses his practice on general litigation, commercial bankruptcy, and elder and disability law.

  • Estate Planning

20 Montchanin Road, Greenville, DE 19807
Website

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Review Sources

Google
4.9 (33)
Avvo
5.0 (14)

Why choose this provider?

Elle Van Dahlgren Law, LLC is a law firm providing the services of estate planning, adult guardianship and probate attorneys in Wilmington. They provide legal services to different clients including business owners, individuals, single or divorced parents, and families. Their areas of expertise include wills, trusts, and estate planning, business succession planning, and asset protection, among others. Elle Van Dahlgren Law, LLC is also a member of the Wealth Counsel, NAELA, and the American Bar Association.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Elle Dahlgren - PrincipalActive15 yrs

2710 Centerville Rd. Ste. 200, Wilmington, DE 19808
Website

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Review Sources

Google
4.4 (144)
Facebook
4.6 (54)
Yelp
3.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Ward & Taylor, LLC, is a law firm that serves clients in Wilmington and the surrounding areas. Since 2005, it has been assisting in probate proceedings to help clients facilitate property distribution. The firm also has expertise in estate plan preparation and real estate settlement. William E. Ward, one of the attorneys from the firm, focuses on real estate law. In 1996, 2004, and 2009, he received an education award from the board of Realtors in New Castle County.

  • Probate

2751 Centerville Rd., Wilmington, DE 19808
Website

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Review Sources

Google
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

McCollom D'Emilio Smith Uebler LLC Attorneys at Law serves clients throughout Wilmington and the surrounding areas. The firm handles estate settlement and probate proceedings, assisting clients with asset location and valuation, identifying estate responsibilities, and preparing the required estate and inheritance tax reports and probate paperwork. Its team also advocates for individual fiduciaries, beneficiaries, and trust companies in trust and estate disputes. Managing member Matthew P. D’Emilio is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Delaware and is also licensed in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning

5315 Limestone Road, Wilmington, DE 19808
Website

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Facebook
4.8 (77)
Google
4.1 (62)
Avvo
5.0 (51)

Why choose this provider?

Giordano, DelCollo, Werb & Gagne, LLC, is a law firm that counsels residents of Wilmington. It assists clients in asset protection and other probate law matters. The firm also helps clients on legal issues that concern real estate, personal injury, family law, and criminal defense. Joe Giordano, one of the attorneys, uses his expertise in estate planning, real estate, and business transactions to provide legal solutions. He served as a deputy attorney general at the Court of Common Pleas and Superior Court in Delaware.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

1225 King Street Suite 700, Wilmington, DE 19801
Website

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Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

Law Office of John Williams, P.A., is a firm that has been serving the Wilmington community since 1995. It provides legal services to individuals, families, and small businesses in different practice areas, including estate planning and administration. Its team assists clients in organizing their estate plans, which involve wills, powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives, and administering small and large estates. The firm also handles contested estate cases. Its practitioner, John H. Williams, Jr., also offers guidance in real estate cases and business transactions.

  • Estate Planning
  • Estate Administration

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
John Williams - PrincipalActive47 yrs

2001 Baynard Boulevard, Wilmington, DE 19802
Website

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Review Sources

Google
4.8 (32)
Facebook
3.0 (2)
Yelp
1.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Denise D. Nordheimer, Esquire, LLC, handles clients in Wilmington, Delaware. They help clients in creating wills or trusts to be executed after their passing. Their attorneys also handle the documents needed for both the state and the beneficiaries. They have represented clients in court for matters of guardianship and administration. The attorneys discuss the client's objectives and needs to create a fitting estate plan. They also offer their services for cases of family law.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Denise Nordheimer - PrincipalActive20 yrs

1020 North Bancroft Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19805

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Review Sources

Google
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Martin & Lunger, P.A. is a law firm in Wilmington with attorneys who have more than 70 years of combined legal experience. The firm has probate attorneys dedicated to helping settle the affairs of decedents, at times working with executors and beneficiaries. Beyond probate law, Martin & Lunger, P.A. offers legal assistance in estate planning, including creating trusts, protecting assets, and creating and administering wills. The firm also assists clients with long-term care planning and eldercare strategies.

  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Probate Litigation

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
William Lunger - Partner / MemberActive46 yrs

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

FAQs

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Wilmington, Delaware?

    For non-emergency cases, you may contact the Wilmington Police Department at 302-654-5151.

  • When is probate necessary in Wilmington?

    Probate is generally required in Wilmington if the person who passed away owned personal property exceeding $30,000, including cars, jewelry, money, stocks and bonds, and bank accounts. Probate is also required if the decedent owned real estate in Delaware in their name, whether the property is solely held or as a tenant in common.

  • How is the probate process initiated in Wilmington?

    To initiate the probate process in Wilmington, a petition must be filed in the county where the decedent resided, but this is typically done by the executor or personal representative of the estate. The next steps may involve the appointment of a personal representative (if there is no named executor), submission of the will, inventory and valuation of assets, obtaining court and beneficiary approval, and distribution of assets to beneficiaries.

  • Can an executor be removed in Wilmington?

    Yes, an executor can be removed in Wilmington under certain circumstances. Under Delaware law, if an executor of an estate fails to fulfill or neglects their responsibilities, they can be removed from their position by the Court of Chancery. An action could be filed with the court seeking the removal of the executor if they were found to be commingling estate and personal assets or committing theft of estate assets.

  • Can you avoid probate in Wilmington?

    Yes, you can. To avoid probate in Wilmington, you have several options. Creating a living trust, transferring assets to the trust, and distributing them to beneficiaries without probate is one approach. Joint ownership with the right of survivorship enables automatic inheritance for the surviving owner. Payable-on-death designations can be added to bank accounts, while transfer-on-death registration is available for securities and vehicles, excluding real estate. Lastly, small estates may be eligible for simplified probate procedures.

  • Can you change or revoke your will in Wilmington?

    Yes, you can change or revoke your will in Wilmington. This can be done by destroying the original document or creating a new will that explicitly revokes the previous one. The testator can also provide a written directive, signed and witnessed by at least two individuals. Specific provisions of a will can be modified by creating a codicil.