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:

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Notifying all beneficiaries of the death

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Notifying all creditors of the death

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Gathering all assets and property of the estate

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Handling all debts which are owed

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Paying all the administration expenses

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Liquidating or selling assets

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Filing tax returns

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Distributing property as instructed

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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:

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Will contests

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Invalid wills

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Unequal distribution of assets

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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.

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The Estate Law Center staff were a pleasure to work with on establishing a trust and assisting with the transfer of a family property. Holly’s response time was exceptional. Highly recommend the Estate Law Center team for all your legal needs. -Deborah
Their law firm is highly informative, professional & friendly. They were extremely helpful in updating my revocable living trust. I am greatly confident that I will be able to contact them in the future for any assistance. Thank you  – Gary
Attorney Geerdes is a very accomplished professional. She is more knowledgeable about the legal implications of estate issues, asset protection and trusts and wills than any other estate attorneys I have talked to. We have two attorneys in our family and they recommend attorney Geerdes. I would recommend her to anyone! - Donald
Estate Law Center attorneys are the best! They really care on top of that they are super knowledgeable. I can honestly say that I can rest at ease knowing that my family is truly protected from any estate issues. They also saved me from other issues and if they can’t help you, they will know someone who can. I would highly recommend Estate Law Center to anyone! James
Workshop was super informative, we were informed about the various types of trust. Most importantly, Wills plus Trust is the key.

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

90 Canal Street
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

Alpharetta Location

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