
Contact us at (770) 212-2181 to schedule a free consultation.
Estate Administration & Probate Lawyers in Atlanta
Providing Guidance Through the Legal Process
Are you currently facing probate or have been named the administrator of an estate by the court? These processes can be lengthy and complex, especially if you attempt to get through it without legal help. At Geerdes & Associates, LLC, our Atlanta probate and estate administration lawyers can provide you with personalized legal guidance.
Estate Administration vs. Probate
Estate administration involves the settlement or management of an estate, including distributing property to heirs and paying any debts. Though administration can take place with or without a will or trust in place, if a person dies unexpectedly or passes away and does not have an estate plan in place, the court will typically appoint an administrator. This administrator will be responsible for handling the distribution of the estate and any other related duties.
Meanwhile, probate is the formal legal process of settling an estate through the court, particularly when there are disputes, large amounts of property or money, or a lack of an estate plan. The named executor or trustee is the responsible for handling the estate according to the instructions in the will or trust.
Although these two situations are different, the duties of an administrator and executor are almost the same. Depending on the exact situation, the entire process can take between 9 and 18 months. In some cases, it can take even longer if there are any problems during the process, such as a contest.
An administrator is responsible for these particular duties:
Notifying all beneficiaries of the death
Notifying all creditors of the death
Gathering all assets and property of the estate
Handling all debts which are owed
Paying all the administration expenses
Liquidating or selling assets
Filing tax returns
Distributing property as instructed
Filing the final paperwork with the court
Representation through the Complex Probate Process
The probate courts are in place to help families make sure that a person’s estate is handled properly after they have passed. If a will is not in place or if a problem arises during the probate process, it can lead to questions being presented by the heirs or family. In the case that you believe something isn’t right with the will or someone else is contesting a will you are administering, we can represent you.
A few complications that can arise include:
Will contests
Invalid wills
Unequal distribution of assets
Complications and contests involving heirs
Would you like to retain legal counsel from a caring Atlanta estate planning attorney?
Contact our firm at 770-203-1099 or complete the form below.
"
Connect with Estate Law Center, LLC
Reach out to our team to schedule your free initial consultation!
Boston Location
400 TradeCenter
Suite 5900
Woburn, MA, US 01801
New York Location
42 Broadway
12th Fl
New York, NY, US 10004
Alpharetta Location
1100 Cambridge Sq,
Alpharetta
GA 30009
New Jersey Location
1 Eves Drive
Suite 111
Marlton, NJ, US 08053
Maryland Location
3261 Old Washington Road
Suite 2020
Waldorf, MD, US 20602
Los Angeles Location
113 N San Vicente Blvd.
Suite 376
Beverly Hills, CA, US 90211
Houston Location
440 Louisiana St.
Suite 900
Houston, TX, US 77002
Virginia Location
4108 E Parham Road
Suite 100
Richmond, VA, US 23228
San Jose Location
3140 De La Cruz Blvd
Ste 200
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Boston Location
Suite 400
Boston MA 02114
New York Location
2 Mott Street
Suite 200
New York, NY 10013
New Jersey Location
197 State Route 18 South
Suite 3000, South Wing
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
1100 Cambridge Sq
Alpharetta GA 30009
Houston Location
Houston
777 S. Post Oak Lane
Houston, TX 77056
Maryland Location
9711 Washingtonian Boulevard
Suite 550
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Los Angeles Location
1800 Century Park East
Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA, US 90067
Virginia Location
Virginia
7400 Beaufont Springs Drive,
Richmond VA 23225