Careful Planning And Guidance With Probate And Estate Planning
The courts handle the estates of people who pass away very differently depending on whether or not they had a will or trust at the time of their death. When someone passes on with a will or trust, their loved ones know exactly what their last wishes are and unless there are issues with the validity of the will or trust, the court only monitors the administration of the will and does not get involved. Without a will, the court appoints an administrator, and assets are distributed according to Texas law. There is no guarantee that someone’s assets will go to the right person when there is no estate plan in place.
Here at the Law Office of James T. Fletcher, we know how important a thorough estate plan is, and we understand how to help families and individuals establish a plan that they can count on to protect their final wishes. We work to fulfill all of our responsibilities in your estate planning and probate needs.
How We Can Help You
Our goal is to help our clients through the challenges of any estate planning and probate needs. We guide our clients through matters such as:
- Creating an inventory of the decedent’s assets
- Settling the estate’s debts
- Filing a tax return and pay any taxes owed
- Distributing assets to beneficiaries of a will or to heirs if there is no will
With independent administration, Texas law allows the administration to proceed without court supervision. It can be necessary to hire an attorney with dependent administration to help you when there is no will available or someone contests the will and the asset distribution. When there are difficulties in the estate administration process, an attorney can be invaluable to resolve things accurately and quickly.
Get The Guidance You Need
The probate process can be complex and take an extended period of time if you do not have an attorney to help you. If you need experienced guidance in your estate planning or probate needs, call our office in Friendswood at 281-648-7780 or email us to schedule your initial consultation today.