Trouble Understanding Probate? Ask a Kennewick Probate Lawyer

Settling an estate after losing someone close to you is probably the last thing on your mind. Understanding the Kennewick Probate process can be a complex, time-consuming, arduous experience – filled with legal jargon & confusing terminology – not to mention the undue stress it can place on you and your family. The mountain of probate-related responsibilities can seem to build higher and higher.

This is where a  Kennewick probate lawyer comes in.  By having a professional guide you through your duties as an executor of a will, you can free up your mind to focus on your family’s needs .

That being said, probate is still a process in which many would like to feel well-versed. Just because an attorney can step in doesn’t always mean you need one, depending on the parameters set by the deceased’s will (or if they even had a will).

We’ll cover everything you’ll need to know about probate in this article and how a Kennewick probate attorney might be your best bet for sorting through the problems that can arise when navigating probate.

So, without further ado, let’s dive in!

Everything You Need to Know about Probate

Probate is a legal process that involves settling debts left unpaid by the deceased and distributing assets among those listed in the descendant’s will  (or according to the respective state’s laws).

It can seem like a pretty dry subject in the wake of a death, but it’s necessary to go through the process. Having a probate lawyer can often help make the process a lot easier.

For instance, the probate process is usually marked by whether or not the deceased had a will.

If the deceased had a signed will, a Kennewick probate lawyer can be brought on in a consultative role. This role can be a way for any executors to have a guide through the process of distributing any assets outlined in the will.

If the will is challenged for any reason (though this isn’t too common), a probate attorney can help represent you . For example, the will might be challenged as having been written under duress or influenced in a way that doesn’t reflect the true motives of the deceased, so it can be crucial to have someone on your side representing your case.

However, it’s not uncommon for someone to pass away without writing a will (or to die “intestate”), and when that happens, having a probate attorney come in as an advisor can be super helpful.  State laws will determine how a person’s estate and assets are distributed in this case, and these laws can vary from state to state .

In some instances, a relative can become the estate administrator even without a will, but that involves that particular duty being released by any other family members to that one relative (a process known as renunciation).

Things can become tricky fast when this happens, so hiring a probate attorney can be the next logical step in your probate journey.

When is a Probate Attorney not Necessary?

In some cases, hiring a probate lawyer may not be entirely necessary. While in nearly all cases, a probate attorney can help make the process much easier to get through, there are some circumstances where the will set forth by the deceased is entirely straightforward. In that case, a probate attorney doesn’t need to be at the top of your list of priorities.

All of this depends on how well the trust or will was set up by the deceased , so make sure you’ve taken the time to see how complicated the overall process is before going it alone.

Kennewick Probate Lawyers – How We Can Help You!

If you’ve decided to go forward and hire a Kennewick probate lawyer, there’s no better team than the legal staff here at Moulton Law Offices.

We work hard to make the probate process as simple as possible for our clients, giving them the freedom to focus on their families and loved ones after a tragic death.

As a team, we can accomplish this by helping you avoid any unnecessary steps in the probate process by looking at joint tenancy, beneficiary designations, and revocable living trusts .

Probate is bound to be tricky, so we encourage you to contact us at  (509) 328-2150 . We’d love to talk more about your needs as an executor and ensure the necessary steps are taken regarding your loved one’s will.

We were recently named by Expertise.com as one of the Top 14 Estate Planning Attorneys in Kennewick, WA!