While no one likes to make a mistake, errors give people a chance to think through their decisions and learn how to achieve better results. However, there’s no “next time” when planning an estate. Clients only get one chance to do it right. Whether or not a person has a will when they die, their estate will pass into probate. Below are some tips to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible.
Organize the Estate Properly
If a person’s documents and estate are disorganized, the family may have a hard time finding everything needed for probate. Such disorganization is costly, but it can be avoided. The client should create a will in accordance with state law, and they should keep copies in the event something happens. Along with the will, the client should list their assets and make copies of important documents. When this is done, it is easier for families to find the documentation they need.
Choose the Right Representative
When a person writes a will, they get to choose a personal representative or estate executor. During probate, the representative must fulfill certain duties to successfully close out the person’s estate. Therefore, it is important for a client to carefully choose an estate representative. Failure to choose an executor or write a will means the state gets to make all of those decisions.
Hire Qualified Legal Counsel
When there’s a broken pipe in the bathroom, a person typically calls upon a plumber to solve the problem. It should be the same when a person deals with estate planning issues. To put together a good estate plan, a client needs to Contact Debenham Law Office LLC to speak to a qualified, experienced estate planning lawyer. Because these plans are so crucial, a client needs to choose probate attorneys in Topeka, KS who know the state’s laws.
Additionally, Probate Attorneys in Topeka, KS can advise clients on ways to make the probate process cheaper, quicker, and easier for the entire family. Depending on the client’s estate and their needs, a probate lawyer should be able to present appropriate options and make suggestions to achieve a favorable outcome. By starting the probate planning process early, a person can avoid potential errors and costly results during probate.
