Probate Lawyer in Bergen County, NJ

When somebody passes away, their assets have to be distributed in a manner that is consistent with state laws and following any directions that they leave. Often times these directions are left in someone’s well. A probate lawyer in Bergen County, NJ is going to be able to guide the executor of the will or beneficiaries of the estate to the probate process.

The probate process goes from identifying the estate assets and beneficiaries to distributing assets and inheritance to the correct people. However, this is only the probate process at its most simple level.

You may be wondering what a probate lawyer is, and a probate lawyer in Bergen County, NJ, is a state licensed lawyer in New Jersey who works for the executors and beneficiaries of an estate. A probate lawyer is going to help you settle the affairs of the decedent, and sometimes they may even help you avoid the probate process altogether if the decedent’s assets have been placed in a trust. A trust is going to ensure a smoother transfer of property outside of court and legal proceedings.

But is a probate lawyer the same thing as an estate lawyer? A private lawyer is also going to be known as an estate lawyer and will be involved in different ways depending on the particular circumstances of the estate they are dealing with. The probate lawyer’s involvement is going to depend on whether the decedent’s assets are valued at a high enough value to need a lawyer, and whether or not the decedent had a last will and testament at the time they passed away. And in many situations where there is a will, challenges may arise as to the validity of the will which will lead to litigation. In cases where there is no will, beneficiaries simply file claims and sue for what they believe they deserve.

But what exactly does a probate lawyer do? These are some of the most common tasks that a probate lawyer may exist in executor and beneficiaries with during the probate process:

  • Collecting proceeds from life insurance policies
  • Identifying and securing their assets
  • Obtaining appraisals for the decedent’s real property
  • Assisting in payment of bills and debts
  • Preparing and filing all documents required by probate court
  • Determining if any estate or her chance taxes are due, making sure these debtors are satisfied
  • They resolve income tax issues
  • Managing checking accounts for the estate
  • Making a final disbursement of assets beneficiaries after all bills and taxes have been paid

Obviously a probate lawyer is somebody you are going to see a lot if you are making claims against a will or lack thereof. Work with probate lawyers in Bergen, NJ such as the ones that Kaplan Law Practice if you have issues with the probate process or if your family needs to set up a well and estate plan. You can work the probate lawyer before or after someone has died in your family, you can also help you to create a will and plan of action as well as many other things.