Estate Administration

Estate Administration

Protect the Interests of Your Loved Ones

When people die, their estates must be collected and managed. The whole estate administration process can become quite overwhelming, especially for those who don’t understand how it works.

While it’s legally the responsibility of executors or administrators to take care of the taxes or distribution of assets, the process isn’t always simple. State law requires personal representatives to a reasonable, prudent standard of care. As an executor, you’re required to:

• Take inventory of the decedent’s assets, including property and finances
• Appraise the assets and pay off creditors
• Distribute remaining assets to beneficiaries, as named in the will
• File and pay local, state, and federal taxes
• Navigate the probate process

Whether the administration of the estate is relatively simple or not, working with an attorney will help you to avoid missteps. Our estate attorneys can guide you through the process that includes:

• Submit a will for probate
• Petition to appoint an administrator if there is no will
• Identify, gather, and distribute assets
• Prepare estate fiduciary income tax returns
• Support the inheritance tax return
• Discharge the personal representative (or executor)