An executor is the person named in the will or by the courts to wrap up the deceased’s financial affairs, such as bills, taxes, and property. If the courts require a probate proceeding then the executor must handle it as well. Our estate lawyer in Raleigh is here to talk more about this situation.
Hiring a Lawyer as an Executor | Estate Lawyer Raleigh
In some cases, the process can be straightforward and no attorney is needed, but if the estate is large or the person named executor feels unqualified to take on the duties, he or she can opt to consult a lawyer who has experience in estate planning and probate law. An estate lawyer in Raleigh will know about the state laws and how local probate law works and will be able to advise the executor.
First, let’s look at what an executor will have to do. Knowing specific details can be helpful in determining if the person named can take on the responsibilities. He or she will need to find the deceased’s assets and manage them until they have been dispersed to the heirs. The executor will need to determine if the estate has to go through probate, which is the process of proving the will is valid and making sure the assets are inventoried, appraised and dispersed after debts and taxes have been paid.
There are situations where a lawyer may not be needed, especially if probate is not necessary and the estate is fairly small and does not include a business. If the family is not contesting the will or threatening a lawsuit over the will, then it can make the process simple. If the deceased’s estate is worth enough to pay its debt, this can also make the process easy.
However, it is not always a simple procedure, and some people may not know enough about the process, probate and local laws to handle it properly. To learn more about these situations, visit back with our next blog post.
Eldreth Law Firm | Estate Lawyer in Raleigh
Remember, if you don’t have an estate plan in place or haven’t reviewed yours in several years, now might be the best time to start. Our estate lawyer in Raleigh is here to help you get your estate planning in order and ready should you pass in an untimely manner or become incapacitated at some point. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to an estate plan. Contact our office.
As always, feel free to contact us at our office to schedule a consultation with if you are looking for a lawyer to represent you in other legal matters. We are here to assist you with small business needs, trademarking, copyrighting and DWI issues.