Socorro, TX Probate Lawyer
Grieving the loss of a loved one can be one of the hardest things a person has to endure. It is even more unfair that the legal and financial affairs that must be dealt with add extra strain to this emotional time. If this sounds like your situation, first let us express our condolences. You deserve to be able to mourn in peace, but if your loved one passed on with no estate plan in place, the Texas probate process will likely not allow that.
At the Villegas Law Firm, we aim to handle the complexities and complications of probate so that you don’t have to. With over 15 years of experience, our lead attorney Jorge Villegas is well-seasoned in the steps and requirements of probate and can guide you through it with speed and ease. Call today for a free consultation and to learn more about the services our Socorro probate lawyer can provide.
What Is The Purpose Of Probate?
Probate is a long, complicated court process that is necessary to determine how a person’s assets should be distributed after they’ve passed away. Some people don’t know that even if a person had a will, their assets must still go through probate – albeit a much more straightforward form of it. The purpose is to ensure that everything in the estate is going to the right people. If there was no will, trust, or any sort of estate plan, then the assets will be distributed according to the Texas laws of intestate succession.
What Happens During The Probate Process?
Once someone passes away and their assets enter probate, an individual (usually a family member or lawyer) will submit the will to the court, along with the death certificate. Then, an estate executor will be appointed by the court; the bulk of the responsibilities for carrying out the will’s contents will fall on the executor’s shoulders throughout the probate process. If the deceased person didn’t have a will, someone will still be appointed by the court to be the personal representative of the estate and handle the same responsibilities as they would if they were an executor (but according to Texas’s laws).
Why Do I Need A Probate Lawyer?
If you’ve been named the executor or personal representative of a loved one’s estate, you will be required to:
- Formally notify creditors, heirs, and the public of the death and of the opening of the probate case
- Gather, inventory, and appraise the decedent’s assets
- Settle outstanding debts with creditors
- Respond to creditor claims
- File final tax returns
- Pay any applicable taxes, including those on the estate
- File a formal accounting
- Communicate with the courts
- Distribute assets to beneficiaries
- Submit a petition to close the estate
- And more.
All of these steps are time consuming and require an immense amount of paperwork, meeting strict deadlines, and working on the court’s clock. If you have your own job, family, and personal responsibilities to deal with, this can all cause more stress than you were prepared for. Allowing our experienced Socorro probate lawyer to handle your case means that the stress can be taken off of you. He is well educated in the local probate laws and knows how to best work with the Texas court system in order to get the fastest resolution.
Our Socorro Probate Lawyer Can Help You Move On
If the probate process is keeping you from being able to heal and move on from your loss, let us help. In addition to being our lead attorney, Jorge Villegas is also a Certified Public Accountant, giving you an advantage when it comes to the financial side of probate. We pride ourselves on our dedicated and personalized legal services and aim to satisfy every client. Call today to get started on your next steps.