A probate attorney handles matters related to the estate of a deceased person. Their `job description includes tasks such as to providing initial consultation, prepare or handle the documentation, and also to officially file documents that are necessary to probate the will in a court of law. You would want to select the best probate attorney for your case, especially when there are a lot of scammers out there who would just want to make money out of misguided clients. To determine the best attorney for your case, you should first be aware of different duties of a probate attorney before and after the death of the client. This will help you determine the type of probate services that you need, and to narrow down your research on the suitable probate attorneys available in your area, specifically the Bryan/College Station area.
Usually, a probate attorney advises about and even draws up the wills and trust, and assists with estate planning. Since the initial period after the decease of the loved one is usually traumatic for the family, the attorney can help reduce some of their burden by handling the business aspects of an accident or illness. Furthermore, the probate attorney helps the heirs of an estate by probating the will. This includes assistance in obtaining values of the property of the deceased, collection of insurance proceeds, settlement of outstanding bills and debts, determination of any taxes due, settlement of disputes between executors and heirs, sales of any property, transfer of property to heirs’ names, and matters related to probate court or other legal proceedings.
People usually start searching for attorneys in the yellow pages. While that may be a fine resource, it doesn’t provide much information and you may end up contacting an attorney that could be of little help as per the services you are looking for. You can search for attorneys on websites. Their webpage will have the relevant biographical information, education and practice details, and also references which may help you get a better understanding of the attorney’s expertise. Some of these sites have reviews of attorneys posted by current and former clients. The Bar Association website can help you know whether an attorney is on good standings.
Setting up appointments and obtaining initial consultation with your top chosen attorneys may be a good step ahead. Prepare for the meeting before hand, such as the relevant questions that you want to ask each attorney. This will help you cross match each attorney’s way of practice and help you decide which attorney will be the most suitable to handle your case. Other important considerations include fees and payment methods, services not included in agreed-upon fees, and surprise expenses that could arise throughout the case. As to the probate matter itself, it is helpful to discuss up-front what issues the probate attorney might expect to arise, how he or she expects to deal with the issues, how long the process should take, how available the attorney will be, and what the attorney expects from you as a client. After visiting your short listed attorneys, consider the information they have given you, their personality, their fees, and any references you checked. And thus finally, contact your top choice and ask if he or she is still available to handle your case.
For more information about our Estate Planning and Probate services at Watson Law Firm, click here.
