Probate
Has a family member, friend or loved one recently passed away? Do you need help settling that person’s affairs and transferring the deceased’s property to those who are entitled to it? Please call . I am an experienced Oregon probate lawyer and can guide you through all the necessary steps of probate. Whether the decedent died leaving a trust, a will or nothing at all, I can help in advising and facilitating the transfer of the decedent’s property.
Handling Will Matters
An estate with a will is called a testate estate. The will is submitted to the court and the lawyer and the personal representative follow the terms of the will. The will should lay out who will be personal representative, who will receive the property of the estate and how to deal with creditors. It is important that you bring the will to the first meeting with the inheritance lawyer so that they can examine it to determine if it complies with the requirements of a will under Oregon law.
The Probate Process Explained
Unless a decedent had no assets, had all of his or her assets in a trust, had only property with beneficiary designations or joint ownership, then the decedent’s estate will go through probate. The probate system requires that the personal representative and their attorney go through a series of steps, including:
- Petitioning the court to appoint a personal representative and open the estate
- Publishing notice of the probate proceeding in the newspaper
- Notifying the Department of Human Services of the probate proceeding
- Notifying potential creditors of the probate proceeding
- Paying the decedent’s valid bills and other debts
- Notifying the heirs of the decedent (those who would take the estate under intestate succession) and the devisees of the decedent (those who take under the will) of the probate proceeding.
- Submitting an inventory of estate assets to the court
- Petitioning for permission to distribute the assets to the heirs or devisees
- Petitioning the court to close the estate
I can help you comply with all of the court filing requirements. In addition, I can assist you with handling estate accounting issues, transferring ownership of the assets and, in general, wrapping up the decedent’s affairs. The following noncourt-related tasks are often required during the administration of an estate:
- Completing forms from banks or other financial institutions
- Assisting you with selling real estate such as the decedent’s home or other real property
- Assisting you with cataloguing estate assets and determining the size of bank accounts or lending accounts
- Keeping bookkeeping records such as a check registry and register of payments and receipts
- Drafting receipts for individuals who have been hired by the estate or for any other individual receiving estate property
- Coordinating distribution plans between family members
- Generally advocating on your behalf to complete the estate administration process
Call at 503-342-2389 or send us a quick email to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced attorney to discuss your probate matter.