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Best Probate Lawyers in Ann Arbor

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2023
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Ager Law Office logo
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Ager Law Office

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4420 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Business Description

Ager Law Office has been serving individuals and families in Ann Arbor for over 30 years. Its primary attorney, Bill Ager, represents clients in matters involving probate and estate administration, litigation and trial work, and real estate. His probate solutions cover summary proceedings, mediating disputes, inventory of accounting, and transfer of assets with or without a will. Ager also helps in administering large and small estates and filing and preparing documents to open an estate for probate court. He is a member of the MAJ.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (7)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
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Ann Arbor Elder Law, PLLC logo

Ann Arbor Elder Law, PLLC

100 Huronview Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
  • Estate Planning
  • Elder Law
  • Probate
  • Probate Administration

Business Description

Ann Arbor Elder Law, PLLC serves seniors and their families to cope with estate planning, elder law, and medicaid issues in the metro. It also provides legal representation for individuals involved in probate litigation which includes guardianship proceedings and will contests. It also assists the decedent's family in the trust and estate administration and distribution of the decedent's assets. Founder of Ann Arbor Elder Law, PLLC, Reid McCarthy, makes himself available for his clients and conducts house calls personally.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (30)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
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Arbor Estate Planning logo
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Arbor Estate Planning

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2860 Carpenter Road Suite 100B, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Business Description

Arbor Estate Planning is a law firm that protects the financial future of families in Ann Arbor through comprehensive estate planning services. These include drafting estate plans that contain wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney, medical care directives, and business succession plans. Founding owner Christopher Juillet also guides clients in the complexities of the probate court and estate administration by helping them with asset inventory, creditor negotiations, sale and distribution of the estate, and closing of the estate.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (14)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
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Babnik Law logo
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Babnik Law

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2723 South State Street, Suite 150, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Babnik Law is a multi-practice firm that serves clients in Ann Arbor. It manages probate law cases and advises clients on related matters, like will validation, asset distribution, and tax management. The firm offers estate planning services, including deed preparation. It also has experience with family law and works to resolve issues on child custody and parental rights. Andrew Babnik Jr., the firm's founder, is certified in estate planning and family law from the Institute of Continuing Legal Education.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.9
Google
4.9 / 5 (21)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (15)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
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Barron, Rosenberg, Mayoras & Mayoras P.C. logo
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Barron, Rosenberg, Mayoras & Mayoras P.C.

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1301 West Long Lake Rd Suite 340, Troy, MI 48098
  • Probate Litigation

Business Description

For over 40 years, Barron, Rosenberg, Mayoras & Mayoras P.C. has been helping clients in Ann Arbor know and understand their legal rights. Its probate attorneys assist individuals in resolving disputes over a will or an estate when the creator of the will is no longer able to weigh in on the matter. Its probate and litigation practice covers disputes over asset ownership, claims against fiduciaries, and challenges to wills. Other practice areas of the firm are estate planning and elder law.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.7
Google
4.7 / 5 (99)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (5)
Yelp
3.5 / 5 (3)

(+1 additional source)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
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Bassett Murray Law Group PLLC logo
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Bassett Murray Law Group PLLC

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2045 Hogback Road, ​Ann Arbor, MI 48105
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate
  • Estate Administration

Business Description

Bassett Murray Law Group PLLC is a general practice firm that has been serving clients in Ann Arbor for more than 25 years. It helps individuals in outlining how their assets are to be distributed in legal documentation. Its attorneys guide personal representatives of an estate through the probate process to facilitate fair transfer and administration of decedents' assets. Partners Jane A. Bassett and Amanda N. Murray have more than 30 years of combined experience in elderly law.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.3
Google
4.3 / 5 (16)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
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Cramer, Minock & Sweeney, PLC logo
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Cramer, Minock & Sweeney, PLC

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339 E Liberty St Ste 200, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate Administration

Business Description

Cramer, Minock & Sweeney, PLC, a full-service law firm that serves Ann Arbor, has been representing individual and business clients since 1977. Its practice areas include probate, estate planning, taxation, real estate, family law, and debtor's rights. It also helps national law firms with matters that involve complex federal litigation. Daniel Cramer, one of its lawyers, is licensed to practice in Florida, Michigan, and the US Tax Court. He obtained his Master of Laws in Taxation in 1983.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.0
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Crippen, Urquhart & Weber, LLP logo
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Crippen, Urquhart & Weber, LLP

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203 S. Zeeb Road, # 205, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Crippen, Urquhart & Weber, LLP, has been serving Ann Arbor and nearby locations since 1950. The general practice firm offers trust and estate administration assistance, catering to clients seeking guidance in consolidating and distributing assets and settling debts. Its team also provides estate planning services and assists clients in purchasing and selling commercial and residential real estate. Crippen, Urquhart & Weber's partners, John C. Urquhart and Deborah J. Hammerlind Weber, have more than five decades of experience collectively.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
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Detail
DeLoof, Dever, Eby, Wright, Milliman, Bourque & Issa PLLC logo
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DeLoof, Dever, Eby, Wright, Milliman, Bourque & Issa PLLC

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301 N. Main Street, 2nd Floor, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

DeLoof, Dever, Eby, Wright, Milliman, Bourque & Issa, PLLC, is a full-service law firm serving Ann Arbor. It provides legal counsel to individuals, businesses, and insurance companies in a wide range of practice areas including probate and estate planning, lending and finance, and family law. One of its lawyers, Michael G. Milliman, has two decades of experience advising clients in different aspects of estate planning such as wills and trust agreements. He also handles cases involving general corporate matters and residential and commercial real estate transactions.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
Fausone Bohn, LLP logo

Fausone Bohn, LLP

41700 6 Mile Rd Ste 101, Northville, MI 48168
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration

Business Description

Fausone Bohn LLP is a law firm based in Northville that serves the people and businesses of the Ann Arbor metro area. The law firm assists with the probate process and litigation involving probate cases, along with business valuation. Its respected estate planning attorneys in Ann Arbor are certified by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education in probate and estate planning. They write and review powers of attorney, wills, living wills, trusts, and documents for charitable contributions.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Google
4.3 / 5 (24)
Facebook
4.7 / 5 (15)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
Ferguson Widmayer & Clark PC logo
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Ferguson Widmayer & Clark PC

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538 North Division Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration

Business Description

Ferguson Widmayer & Clark PC is a firm that provides probate assistance in Ann Arbor and the surrounding areas. It aims to live by its philosophy of committed, comprehensive, and collaborative representation in different practice areas, such as trust, estate, and probate settlement, business succession and estate planning, and real estate law. It handles wills, planning for incapacity, durable powers of attorney, advanced directives, and tax and retirement planning. The firm was founded by Warren Widmayer and Larry Ferguson in 1991.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (7)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
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Glenn R. Matecun logo
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Glenn R. Matecun

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915 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 6, Howell, MI 48843
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

Business Description

Glenn R. Matecun has been advising Ann Arbor clients on legal matters since 2010. He assists individuals settling estates on a variety of issues, ranging from asset location and appraisal to creditor notification and tax management. Matecun also sets up special needs trusts to aid families looking to protect their child's Supplemental Security Income eligibility. He works on other cases concerning real estate law. Matecun serves the Michigan Forum of Estate Planners as the treasurer of its board of directors.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.9
Google
4.8 / 5 (37)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (21)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
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Helpfulness
Detail
Great Lakes Family Probate & Estates PLLC logo
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Great Lakes Family Probate & Estates PLLC

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838 W. Long Lake Road, Suite 100, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Great Lakes Family Probate & Estates, PLLC, caters to clients throughout Ann Arbor and the neighboring communities. It handles legal cases that involve probate law. The firm helps clients in understanding the state's spousal elective share and spousal allowances statutes. It also deals with cases concerning the guardianship and conservatorship of minor children. The firm is a member of the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Its offices are located in Bloomfield Hills and Lansing.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (18)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
Mitzel Law Group PLC logo
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Mitzel Law Group PLC

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1590 Eisenhower Pl, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
  • Trusts
  • Probate Administration

Business Description

The Mitzel Law Group PLC provides Ann Arbor residents with legal services in the areas of estate planning, probate, and trust administration, as well as real estate, tax, and business law. Its probate services include filings, court appearances, accounting, and tax preparation. It provides assistance in drafting wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, and in other asset protection strategies like the use of charitable foundations. Its lawyers have a combined experience of more than 120 years. Principal attorney Dennis Mitzel is an American College of Trust & Estate Counsel fellow.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––
Musser Love Attorneys at Law - P.C. logo
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Musser Love Attorneys at Law - P.C.

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4844 Jackson Road Suite 204, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate

Business Description

Musser Love, P.C., works to represent individuals with probate cases in Ann Arbor. The firm's probate attorneys assist individuals regarding estate administration, working closely to help clients plan their estate and draft a last will and testament, which ensure that the rightful individual inherits their properties. The straightforward and customized legal process is geared towards the clients' personal goals. Musser Love, P.C., also practices in other fields, including business and family law, for over 25 years.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.7
Google
4.7 / 5 (37)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
Roberts & Freatman logo
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Roberts & Freatman

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125 N. Huron Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate Litigation

Business Description

Roberts & Freatman has been assisting individuals and businesses in various legal matters in Ann Arbor for more than 30 years. It guides clients through the steps of probate law, working to fulfill their fiduciary duties in administering the decedent's estate. It also safeguards the clients' financial assets and helps them in life transitions through estate planning methods, including healthcare directives, powers of attorney, guardianship and conservatorship, and wills and trusts. One of the lawyers, Ellis B. Freatman III, has been in legal practice since 1982.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
3.9
Google
3.9 / 5 (8)
Facebook
4.0 / 5 (4)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
Stimpson & Associates logo
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Stimpson & Associates

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455 E. Eisenhower Pkw Ste 40, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Probate
  • Adult Guardianship

Business Description

Stimpson & Associates is an Ann Arbor-based team of attorneys and paralegals that focus on family, business, and criminal laws, as well as articles including estate planning, probate, power of attorney, trusts, and wills. Their legal team has been serving clients in the region for over a decade. The founder, David M. Stimpson, was elected to the Lenawee County Commission in 2004 and currently serves as the commission’s chairman and a member of the Criminal Justice Committee.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.6
Facebook
4.3 / 5 (26)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
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Treetown Law logo
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Treetown Law

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214 N. Fourth Avenue, 2nd Floor, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Established in 2018, Treetown Law is an Ann Arbor-based law firm serving the estate planning needs of Michigan and Illinois families. Its comprehensive estate plan packages include a will, child protection plan, guardianship destination, durable power of attorney for finances, and final disposition of remains. It also provides an optional one-hour legacy interview for clients wanting to record a personal message for their loved ones. Ashely Waddell Tingstad founded the company to make estate planning accessible for busy families.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (6)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––
Westerman & Morrissey, P.C. logo
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Westerman & Morrissey, P.C.

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345 S. Division, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Westerman & Morrissey, P.C., is dedicated to helping families settle estate and inheritance issues. It handles estate planning and administration, family business succession and tax planning, trust administration, and probate litigation. It also drafts wills, powers of attorney, marital agreements, real estate documents, and estate tax returns. Susan Westerman has been practicing tax and estate planning in Ann Arbor for over four decades. She became a fellow of the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel in 1981.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

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 withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What does a probate attorney do?

    Probate attorneys are licensed professionals who represent executors and heirs after someone has died. They provide personalized legal advice, assist with tax planning, settle debts, and facilitate the distribution of assets. Probate attorneys typically represent clients during administrative proceedings overseen by probate courts, although some litigators focus on handling disputes and lawsuits related to contested estates.

  • What is probate court?

    Probate court works with the family or beneficiaries of a deceased person to validate their last will and testament. The courts review the individual's will to identify and calculate assets, pay off remaining debts, and distribute the remaining property to beneficiaries per the deceased person's requests. Depending on state laws, property valued under a certain amount may not require probate.

  • How long do you have to file probate after death?

    The amount of time loved ones have to file a will after a person dies varies from state to state. While California courts require probate to be filed within one year, New York has no deadline. That being said, it's advisable to file probate as quickly as possible once a person has died, as the process itself can take anywhere from a few weeks to more than a year.

  • Does life insurance go through probate?

    Life insurance doesn't need to go through the probate courts if the deceased individual has named a beneficiary on their policy. However, life insurance policies without beneficiaries, or with beneficiaries who are either deceased themselves or cannot be contacted, go directly to the deceased individual's estate. When this happens, life insurance proceeds must go through probate court to determine how funds should be allocated.

  • Do household items go through probate?

    While the exact rules do vary from state to state, most household items don't require probate and are automatically left to immediate families unless otherwise stated in the deceased person's will. When it comes to property, only items above a certain value or held in title are required to go through probate in most states.

  • Do bank accounts with beneficiaries have to go through probate?

    In the event a beneficiary has been named, bank accounts are not required to go through probate and will be paid directly to the person designated by the deceased individual. However, should that individual be deceased themselves or if contact cannot be made after a certain period of time, funds will be allocated to the estate and put through the probate process.

  • What happens if no probate is filed?

    Depending on the circumstances, probate may not be required in all cases. If a person passes on and their remaining property is jointly owned, it automatically transfers to the other owner. However, if a property is not jointly owned and no probate has been filed, the executor of the will won't be able to transfer titles or cash assets to beneficiaries. Be aware that the specific laws surrounding probate requirements vary from state to state.