The term “probate” can encompass many things under the law. In its most commonly accepted form, it refers to the procedure used to determine the validity of the deceased’s will and the means through which the proper distribution of the estate is devised. The process can be confusing. If the deceased owned a business in Akron, Ohio in addition to having other assets, it may be quite complex. As a result, if you want to help reduce the stress and ensure the process proceeds as smoothly as possible, it is best to contact a probate and estates lawyer.
What to Do Before Contacting a Probate and Estates Lawyer
If you are only recently getting in touch with a probate and estates lawyer, it is important that you prepare some information in advance. He or she will have some questions for you to answer. By doing the following, you can speed up the process for everyone:
- Check out to see if a will currently exists. It may mean talking to close friends and other family members. It may also be looking into the existence of a safe or safety deposit box in his home or bank in Akron, OH.
- Provide a list of who you believe are the potential heirs. You should try to have a list of names, addresses, emails and phone numbers to make it easy for the probate and estate lawyer to contact them
- Do you know what assets the deceased had? Did they consist of a home or other types of real property? What about bank accounts? Did they have investments? Did they have a business as well as a personal account?
- Collect any documents that are related to the assets. This may consist of deeds, business agreements, insurance policies, beneficiary statements and similar items.
- Compile a list of debts and debtors. Please try to include things such as diverse as mortgage payments and utility bills
These are the basic steps. You should follow them if you want the process to move along in a timely fashion. Of course, you may be able to reduce the chances of this occurring – or avoid it all together, if the deceased has already arranged with a probate and estates lawyer. If this were the case, the lawyer and his or her staff in Akron would already be aware of the specificities of the estate and be prepared to help you file for probate. In some instances, the lawyer already has possession of the current will.
Contacting the Probate and Estate Planning Lawyer
You need to compile the necessary documentation and other items yourself. Alternatively, an Akron lawyer may already have the prerequisite items. Whatever the situation, when it comes to handling the estate of the deceased, it is always essential to contact a probate and estate planning lawyer for a consultation.
If you live in Akron, a Probate And Estates Lawyer from the Law Office of John C. Grundy can provide you with the right legal guidance and services you require. The firm provides legal services in the areas of Estate Planning and Business Law as well as effective and expert administration.
