A close loved one has died, and you are the surviving spouse, child of a single parent, or simply “next of kin.”
Immediately you are faced with questions: What is probate? My family member had a will. What do I do? MY family member had NO will . . . a trust? Must I qualify as executor? What do I do about the mortgage? Do I need a lawyer?
Learn more about when you need an estate administration lawyer in Virginia.
When to Consult a Lawyer in Virginia
As with many of life’s complications: it depends . . . but your lawyer’s office is often a good first step that can, in the long run, save YOU time and effort, and the estate’s money.
What is an Estate?
Unless you have handled the estate of a loved one or you are an estate attorney you probably may know little about probate, inheritance, wills, trusts or the many, many definitions of an “estate”. Learn more about our estate planning options for Virginia.
Often families face these questions in times of crisis. The truth is, the heirs, beneficiaries, and families of most people who die can benefit with the help of an attorney experienced in estate administration.
What Does an Estate Administration Lawyer Do?
Your relationship with an estate administration lawyer in virginia may be as simple as a consultation where the attorney helps sort out the decedent’s assets, debts, and estate, and provides basic administration advice that gives the personal representative sufficient knowledge to go through probate, gather the assets, pay the bills to distribute the estate, and the like, depending on the situation.
[Related Article: Filing a Wrongful Death Case]
What Happens If There is No Will?
Other times the decedent may die without a will (known as “intestate” estate), or with assets that pass as a matter of law via beneficiary statements or under a trust agreement, or assets subject to the requirements of a will (probate).
What Difficult Situations Can You Encounter?
An attorney may be needed to interpret a will or trust agreement, to avoid disputes and/or legal action, and sometimes competing interests among heirs and beneficiaries require estate litigation or other court action.
Often there are no disputes, but the decedent left his or her assets in and among complex (or convoluted) investments that require the expertise of an estate administration attorney that understands such assets and how to prepare an estate accounting.
Sometimes, the decedent has left an “insolvent estate” – too little money or assets to meet the decedent’s debts – and the family is concerned about how to handle that debt.
Estate Administration Lawyer in Virginia
All these scenarios and others may result in the need for legal advice from an experienced estate administration and/or litigation attorney in Virginia. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help. We have offices located in Fairfax, Northern Virginia and our lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience.
