Helping Heirs Navigate the Legal System After a Loved One’s Death
People don’t always leave their affairs in perfect order when they pass away. Sometimes there is a will, but there are problems with it. Other times, there is no will at all. If significant assets are involved and you are a potential heir, you will need help navigating the challenges presented by the probate and estate administration processes in New York. Our estate planning attorneys have many years of experience in probate and estate administration and can help you protect your inheritance and honor your loved one’s wishes.
When Does an Estate Have to Go Through Probate?
If your loved one named beneficiaries and outlined his her or wishes in a will, and died with assets in his or her name alone, the estate will have to go through probate, which is the process by which the court validates a will. A petitioner, usually the executor of the will, must prove that the will is valid by providing affidavits from the witnesses to the will and notifying heirs that the will is being probated. This can be a long and difficult process, especially for an executor with no experience in the law. Landskind & Ricaforte Law Group, P.C., helps executors and heirs by completing the following necessary tasks:
- Probate of the will
- Notice to heirs
- Collection of assets after probate
- Facilitate the preparation of income tax returns for the decedent
- Assistance with the payment of creditors’ claims
- Preparation of federal and state estate tax returns
- Judicial and informal accountings of the will
- Distribution of estate assets
In other words, we assist with every step of the process when a loved one leaves behind a will. This is a difficult time for family members who have lost a loved one. With our legal assistance, some of the burdens are lifted, and the heirs of an estate are freed up to cope with their loss and take care of more pressing tasks. If you are a named executor of a will or are expecting to inherit when a family member dies, contact our Brooklyn law office to see if we can help you through the process, noting that we represent executors, administrators, heirs and beneficiaries in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, and Long Island.