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Best Probate Lawyers in Syracuse

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2023
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Baldwin & Sutphen, LLP logo
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Baldwin & Sutphen, LLP

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126 North Salina Street Suite 320, Syracuse, NY 13202
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Baldwin & Sutphen, LLP, provides legal services to individuals, families, business owners, and municipal institutions in and around Syracuse. Its team guides clients in different aspects of probate law. The firm deals with matters involving estate planning and administration, as well as assists inheritors in processing living trusts and wills. It also offers tax planning, trust management, and Medicaid application services. In addition, it litigates real estate disputes. Baldwin & Sutphen has been in operation 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.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (6)

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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Carbonaro, Carbonaro & Brune, P.C. Attorneys at Law logo
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Carbonaro, Carbonaro & Brune, P.C. Attorneys at Law

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110 Genesee Street Suite 310, Auburn, NY 13021
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Carbonaro, Carbonaro & Brune, P.C. Attorneys at Law counsels residents in and around Syracuse. Its team helps clients navigate the processes of probate and estate administration. The professionals counsel executors on various matters such as estate tax filing, consequential tax payments, and asset distribution. They also serve trustees seeking advice on communicating with beneficiaries and preparing tax returns. Trust administration and fiduciary income taxation are the firm's other services. Its founder, Paul A. Carbonaro, serves as the New York State Bar Association's president.

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 (15)
Avvo
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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CDH Law PLLC logo
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CDH Law PLLC

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100 Madison Street Tower 1, Floor 12, Syracuse, NY 13202
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

Business Description

CDH Law PLLC handles probate and estate administration matters for clients in Syracuse. The firm assists executors and administrators of an estate in carrying out their fiduciary duties by completing court paperwork, providing proper notice, and distributing the decedent's assets to the rightful beneficiaries. Likewise, it represents clients in probate litigation, including those who seek to contest a decedent's will. This veteran-owned firm comprises a team of former prosecutors who also assist with criminal defense and family law matters.

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 (101)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (14)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (1)

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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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Cerio Law Offices logo
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Cerio Law Offices

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407 S. Warren Street, Suite 5, Syracuse, NY 13202
  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Cerio Law Offices has been serving clients in Syracuse and the surrounding areas since 1998. This legal practice handles matters that involve probate administration and estate planning and assists clients in protecting and securing assets for their families. It also provides counsel and representation for cases involving wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, Medicaid planning, guardianships, and conservatorships. Its team works with tax professionals, financial planners, and accountants in designing estate plans for clients. The team has over 75 years of collective experience in the industry.

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.
4.8
Google
5.0 / 5 (11)
Yelp
1.0 / 5 (2)
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
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––
Contiguglia Law logo

Contiguglia Law

100 Genesee Street, Suite 6, Auburn, NY 13021
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Contiguglia Law is an Auburn-based firm that offers estate planning services to families around Syracuse. Its team, which has more than seven decades of collective experience, provide clients with a diverse understanding of local laws and relevant guidelines in the creation of comprehensive wills and trusts. It also offers legal assistance in delegating health care proxies and powers of attorney in preparation for a loved one's incapacitation. The firm's managing attorney, David A. Contiguglia, is a board member of the Cayuga County Counseling Service, Inc.

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 (9)

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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Craig J. Billinson & Associates logo

Craig J. Billinson & Associates

342 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13202
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Craig J. Billinson & Associates is a law firm that caters to clients in the Syracuse area. Families who need help with managing their deceased loved one's estate can get help with probate administration. It involves settling disputes among beneficiaries and submitting documents to the court. The firm also handles cases involving family law, business law, real estate, civil litigation, and traffic law. Lead counsel Craig Billinson has been a practicing attorney for more than 35 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.
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
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Davies Law Firm logo

Davies Law Firm

210 East Fayette Street, 7th Floor, Syracuse, NY 13202
  • Living Trust
  • Probate
  • Estate Administration

Business Description

Davies Law Firm has been serving Syracuse clients since 1993. The firm offers estate planning services that protect clients' families from the legal and financial consequences of mental and physical disability, long-term illness, and death. It handles guardianship, trusts, wills, long-term care, Medicare, and Medicaid matters. In addition, it offers assistance with death probate and estate administration. Founder Frederick P. Davies is a member of the New York State Bar Association's Trusts and Estates and Elder Law Sections.

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
4.6 / 5 (61)
Avvo
3.9 / 5 (9)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (7)

(+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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Detail
DeFio Law Firm, PLLC logo
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DeFio Law Firm, PLLC

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774 State Fair Blvd., Syracuse, Ny 13209
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Since 2003, the DeFio Law Firm, PLLC, has been providing legal assistance in estate planning, business succession planning, and Medicaid asset protection planning. It helps individuals and families in the Syracuse area in drafting estate plan documents, such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care proxies. The team of lawyers also offer assistance in probate administration. The DeFio Law Firm helps its clients in ensuring their assets are properly distributed to the rightful beneficiaries.

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 (13)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (2)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (1)

(+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
Responsiveness
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Detail
Hilton Estate & Elder Law, LLC logo
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Hilton Estate & Elder Law, LLC

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2100 Genessee Street, Utica, NY 13502
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate Litigation

Business Description

Hilton Estate & Elder Law, LLC, helps clients in Syracuse protect their assets for their families' future generations. The law firm represents estate executors and beneficiaries in probate proceedings to arrange and complete the transfer of the assets of the decedents. Its attorneys and staff have more than 120 years of collective experience in the area of elder law. They draft powers of attorney, write health care proxies, and create trusts to protect clients' assets. Robert K. Hilton III, the firm's owner, is a Wealth Counsel member.

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
Yelp
4.6 / 5 (72)
Google
4.9 / 5 (19)

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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Detail
Koldin Law Center, P.C. logo
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Koldin Law Center, P.C.

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6661 Kirkville Rd, East Syracuse, NY 13057
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Koldin Law Center, P.C., has been handling estate planning, probate, and trust administration since 1964. It helps families and individuals in the Syracuse metro in preparing for estate plan documents, such as last will and testaments, powers of attorney, and health care directives. The firm assists the decedent’s family in collecting debts, managing the decedent's assets, paying off bills, and addressing any limitations of a will. They also handle Medicaid planning and planning for individuals with disabilities.

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.
4.2
Google
4.4 / 5 (14)
Yelp
1.0 / 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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Langan & Langan logo
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Langan & Langan

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892 East Brighton Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13205
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Langan & Langan is a law firm that was founded by George A. Langan. It has been in the industry for over 100 years, serving clients in Syracuse and the surrounding areas. It uses a hands-on approach when handling cases related to real estate, criminal defense, business organizations, and personal injury. In addition, it deals with estate planning, administration, and DWI/traffic. It helps achieve the client's goals and interests by working and communicating with them in case they need representation.

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)
Law Offices of Mannion Copani logo
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Law Offices of Mannion Copani

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224 Harrison St Ste 306, Syracuse, NY 13202
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

The Law Offices of Mannion Copani is a private practice that has been serving clients in Syracuse for over 30 years. It practices in areas including estate planning and protection. The firm aids clients in protecting their assets by drafting an estate plan using tools including last will and testament, family trust, power of attorney, and health care proxy. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Mannion Copani also provide legal representation to clients on various matters in Medicaid 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.
4.8
Google
4.8 / 5 (9)

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
McDonald & Kimball, P.C. Attorneys at Law logo
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McDonald & Kimball, P.C. Attorneys at Law

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120 E Washington St # 714, Syracuse, NY 13202
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Located in Syracuse, McDonald & Kimball, P.C., Attorneys at Law, is a private multi-practice firm that caters to individuals, families, and businesses throughout New York State. Its team provides legal assistance for basic estate planning matters. Other practice areas of the firm include landlord-tenant law, traffic law, and corporate formation. Partners Timothy Francis McDonald and Emily Derevenko Kimball are both members of the Central New York Mortgage Bankers Association. The two have more than four decades of combined legal experience.

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 (9)

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
MCV Law logo
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MCV Law

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511 East Fayette Street, Syracuse, NY 13202
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate Litigation

Business Description

MCV Law is a multi-practice firm serving Syracuse and nearby areas. It provides legal assistance to families and individuals seeking detail-oriented solutions for probate disputes. The team collaborates with the executor or trustee for an orderly estate administration that complies with the desires of the decedent or the trust grantor. One of the partners, Gary J. Valerino, oversees the firm’s Estate Planning Department. He is a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the National Association of Subrogation Professionals.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesBar StatusExperience
William Crossett - Partneractive41 yrs

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.
4.8
Google
4.9 / 5 (198)
Facebook
4.7 / 5 (46)
Avvo
3.0 / 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
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
Norman J. Chirco Law logo

Norman J. Chirco Law

95 Genesee St 3rd Floor, Auburn, NY 13021
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Norman J. Chirco Law has been providing legal counsel and representation for clients within the Syracuse area for over three decades. Chirco's practice includes various areas of probate law, including the creation and execution of wills, trusts, and estate plans for beneficiaries and fiduciaries. He educates clients in comprehensive discussions of legal guidelines and options to help them understand the probate process and reduce the stress of the proceedings. He also covers cases and disputes involving family and real estate 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
Facebook
4.2 / 5 (123)
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (62)
Google
4.2 / 5 (19)

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
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Detail
Pomeroy, Armstrong & Casullo, LLP logo
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Pomeroy, Armstrong & Casullo, LLP

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16 Tompkins Street, Cortland, NY 13045
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Pomeroy, Armstrong & Casullo, LLP, is a team of attorneys serving the Syracuse area. They counsel clients seeking to have estate plans prepared. The legal professionals draft various documents such as living wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare proxies. They also assist clients in the areas of Medicaid planning, family law, and real estate. Pomeroy, Armstrong & Casullo's lawyers have more than a century of collective experience. Donald Armstrong, one of its partners, used to work for the Cortland County Public Defender’s Office.

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.
4.1
Google
3.4 / 5 (14)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (10)

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
––
Robertson Law Office logo

Robertson Law Office

333 E Onondaga St, Syracuse, NY 13202
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Robertson Law Office offers personalized legal guidance to clients in Syracuse. Thomas M. Robertson assists clients in the areas of probate administration, estate planning, and real estate law. Regarding probate administration, Robertson helps clients with compiling and analyzing estate documents to determine the rightful heirs of deceased loved ones. As an experienced litigator, he is prepared to protect his clients' rights and interests in court in case disputes over wills and division of assets arise.

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.
4.8
Google
4.8 / 5 (5)
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
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Detail
Sloan DeLaney P.C. logo
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Sloan DeLaney P.C.

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8 River Street, Baldwinsville, NY 13027
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Sloan DeLaney P.C. provides the Syracuse area with a wide range of probate-related services, which involve dealing with trusts and wills, estate tax planning, business succession, and long-term care planning. It handles trusts to help its clients protect their assets, reduce estate tax, avoid probate, and facilitate charitable giving. Karin Sloan DeLaney, the firm’s principal attorney, has almost two decades of experience in trusts and estates law, elder and tax law, and special needs planning.

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 (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
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Detail
The Monashefsky Law Offices logo
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The Monashefsky Law Offices

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300 South State Street, Syracuse, NY 13202
  • Trusts
  • Wills

Business Description

The Monashefsky Law Offices helps individuals in the Syracuse area protect their wealth for their families and direct how they want their assets to be distributed upon their passing through the creation of wills and estates. It also deals with legal matters involving divorce, family law, and criminal defense. Founder Greg Monashefsk assesses clients' situations and provides them with a wide range of dispute resolution alternatives, including negotiation, litigation, collaboration, and mediation. He served as president of the CNY Collaborative Family Law Professionals.

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
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Detail
The Nottingham Law Office logo
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The Nottingham Law Office

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One Lincoln Center, 110 West Fayette Street Suite 1250, Syracuse, NY 13202
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Estate Taxes

Business Description

The Nottingham Law Office helps clients in the Syracuse metro area with probate and related needs. The firm represents estates and executors in formal matters as well as lawsuits pertaining to the remaining possessions of estates and the right of heirs to receive them. Its work often involves dealing with creditors who've made claims against the estate, and resolving tax issues to keep everything in line with the law. The Nottingham Law Office also does business and real estate law.

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
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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.