Losing a loved one is difficult. Grieving with your loss while trying to navigate the probate process alone is more than most people can cope with. For this reason, most people hire an attorney to help them through probate which is the collection and management of all assets; paying debts or taxes owed against the estate; and distributing property to your loved one’s heirs. Once you found that attorney to help you through the probate process, how do you prepare for your first meeting?
The tips listed below will help you get organized and will give you and some confidence going into that first meeting. To start with, seek to receive eight to ten (8-10) certified copies of the death certificate. Death certificates are used in planning and carrying out the probate process in many ways from providing a copy to the Court to forwarding copies to account holders and life insurance providers. If possible, bring at least one copy of the death certificate to your first meeting with your probate attorney.
The next step is also very important. You need to determine if there is an existing written Will, or written Estate Plan. Providing these documents to your probate attorney will help in the determination of whether probate is required or can be avoided. For instance, if there is a trust, probate might not be necessary.
Third, once the written Will or Estate Plan is located, you can determine who the personal representative, or executor, of the estate is. This person is usually identified in the written Will or Estate Plan. Bring copies of these documents with you to your meeting with your attorney so that the person named as the personal representative, or executor, of the estate can be contacted by the probate attorney.
Next, if it is possible to do, collect as much information as you can concerning all the assets and debts of your loved one. For example, it would be helpful at your first meeting to provide your probate attorney with copies of any existing life insurance policies, retirement accounts or pensions, bank account statements, and the latest tax return. In addition to these documents, copies of any and all real property deeds or mortgages should be brought to your probate attorney.
Lastly, if you can identify them, bring a written list of all your loved one’s children, relatives, or family members who might be connected with or associated to the individual who just passed. These individuals may be the heirs of your loved one and your probate attorney may need to contact them during the probate process.
By preparing all of these documents and information, your first meeting with your probate attorney should be successful. And remember, take the time you need to process everything and do not feel you are alone in this process.
If you have any questions about the probate process, our [Idaho, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Boise] Estate Planning Team of lawyers are there to answer your questions and assist you in any way that you need. Please contact our [Idaho, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Boise] Estate Planning Team.
Call us toll free at 877-232-6101 or 208-232-6101 for a consultation with the Racine Olson team of Estate Planning attorneys in Pocatello Idaho. You can also email us directly at racine@racinelaw.net. We will answer your Pocatello Idaho Estate Planning questions and will help you determine how to meet your personal estate planning needs.