Why You Should Hire A Probate Attorney Port St Lucie

Probates are very stressful for everyone involved: the surviving family members, executors, etc. This shouldn’t come as a surprise because these are usually tough legal processes where a will is proven and inheritors are determined.

In other words, this is how the distribution of the estate, especially high-value assets such as real estate, is sorted out. 

Unfortunately, if you’re an executor of an estate, you’re in a tough position as probate is very uncomfortable to manage. You may even have to deal with your family making hard-hitting accusations, or in the worst-case scenario, handle debt claims which could make you legally liable if you mess anything up.

This is arguably the main motivation for hiring a probate attorney Port St Lucie as it will make the task so much easier to navigate.

Here are the top reasons why you should go for it:

1. Avoid Conflicts 

Without a probate attorney Port St Lucie, you may become a punching bag in serious family conflicts. 

In-fighting and high tensions are quite common during probates, especially if the executor isn’t managing the process well and lines of communication are broken. If this happens, the entire process will screech to a halt and the family relationships may never recover.

With a probate attorney managing the process, this can all be avoided. The executor won’t be acting independently, which automatically reassures all family members that the estate is handled properly. 

Perhaps more importantly, a probate attorney Port St Lucie can explain the details of the process to each family member so there won’t be any personal bickering with the executor.

2. Complete The Probate As Fast As Possible

The probate process, more so if handled poorly, may take two years or more. This means family members will have to wait unnecessarily long to receive their inheritance, which only adds to the tension. 

With a legal professional on board, every bit of procedure can be completed in a few months, meaning all family members will be able to access the estate sooner. 

3. Dodge Legal Claims

Claims against the estate are quite common in probates. For instance, someone may feel scorned for not being included in the will or they may think they’re being treated unfairly. 

A probate attorney Port St Lucie handling the process signifies to everyone that an impartial individual is in charge. Hence, no one will think an executor is cheating them out of their inheritance and there will be significantly fewer claims against the estate.

4. Steer Clear Of Costly Mistakes

Probates are complicated, no way around it. In some cases, they can easily include over 50 pages of legalese-filled documents. 

Hence, if you make any mistakes or overlook a single document, the process can drag out an extra few months. It’s also not uncommon for an entire estate to get rejected by the court because of a formality. Guess what happens then?

The whole ordeal process must be restarted.

This is why involving an experienced probate attorney Port St Lucie is one of the best ways to make certain everything goes as planned. A legal professional has the experience and expertise to do exactly what needs to be done for the proper resolution of the probate.

5. Resolve Debts Efficiently

Even when someone dies, they may have a considerable amount of debt that needs to get paid from the estate. This puts the executor in an uncomfortable position as they’ll have to take on this task alone. 

It may include paying taxes, funeral costs, loans, outstanding bills, you name it. What’s more, all of this needs to be taken care of while the shock of losing a loved one is still fresh. 

A probate attorney Port St Lucie can make this process easier too. This way, you avoid the chance of missing important details or accidentally underpaying some of the debts. Having an expert on board also gives you the necessary peace of mind, as you’ll know everything is taken care of so you can take your time to mourn instead of filing financial documents.

6. Save Money

While hiring a probate attorney Port St Lucie does cost money, these expenses are minuscule compared to the services you’ll be getting (and the aforementioned peace of mind, which you can’t put a price on).

For starters, failing to administer the estate properly will far outweigh the cost of an attorney. The same goes for any legal claims against the estate or yourself that will also contribute to the overall costs.

One thing you need to realize if you’re an executor is  that you are buying yourself peace by involving an attorney. Fulfilling this role means you already have got a lot on your plate - from dealing with family conflicts to filing the necessary documents and paying off debts. 

A legal professional handling your probate will support you in your role as an executor and alleviate a lot of the burden. Furthermore, they’ll protect you from personal liability if anything goes wrong.

7. Manage Deadlines Effectively

Just like any other legal process, there are strict deadlines you need to meet to avoid trouble, and the application deadline is just one of them. You also need to keep track of creditor notification deadlines and different probate court application deadlines. 

Most probate attorneys have done this for a long time so keeping track of time limits is second nature for them at this point. 

8. Gain Access To Trusted Professional Resources

In some circumstances, you may need to involve other individuals in the process. For example, you may require the services of an accountant or a tax specialist. 

A reputable probate attorney Port St Lucie will have connections across the business spectrum and they can refer you to other bona fide professionals you may need for a smooth probate.

It’s also worth noting that attorneys may already have a great relationship with other individuals in the legal community. This means that they can access documents faster than just another average executor.

Get in touch with the Law Offices of Mary E. King if you need help with your will

If you’re an executor in the probate, you can virtually guarantee a positive outcome for everyone involved by having a professional on board. After all, any mistake you make can destroy your relationship with your family and cost you a lot of money and stress.

This is why your best choice is the Law Offices of Mary E. King - we can help you every step of the way and handle your executor obligations on your behalf. We have years of experience in estate planning and can make sure your administration of the estate goes without a hitch.

Call 941-906-7585 or fill out our online contact form to schedule an appointment and receive some well-needed backup!

Note: 

The information in this blog post is for reference only and not legal advice. As such, you should not make legal decisions based on the information in this blog post. Moreover, there is no lawyer-client relationship resulting from this blog post, nor should any such relationship be implied. If you need legal counsel, please consult a lawyer licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.