Probate and Guardianship

The death of a loved one presents unique legal challenges to those left behind. Out of financial necessity, one of the most pressing concerns for many people is figuring out what the deceased person owned, how ownership is to be transferred, and to whom it is to be transferred. Probate is the process of managing, with court oversight, a deceased person's assets and liabilities and making sure the deceased person's belongings are distributed in accordance with his or her wishes, or, in the absence of a will, in accordance with the law. Most probate cases are fairly routine and require a lot of paperwork, but little controversy and few if any actual appearances in court. Our firm makes sure the probate process is handled smoothly and efficiently so that the heirs and beneficiaries have the benefit of their inheritance as soon as possible under the applicable laws.

When a loved one becomes incapacitated mentally or physically, there often is no legal way to manage the person's affairs without obtaining court permission to do so. This process is called guardianship. It involves petitioning the court for permission to manage the incapacitated person's affairs and court oversight of the management of the matters once a guardian is appointed. Navigating through the hoops of a guardianship can be a daunting task. It is essential to have counsel knowledgeable about the guardianship court personnel and processes. Our firm has helped many families through these types of difficult circumstances.