Probate law can be an intimidating term: many are unsure of what it means and what a probate lawyer does exactly. In this blog post, we aim to provide important information surrounding a field of our practice, probate law, and probate lawyers themselves.
What Is a Probate Lawyer?
To get specific… According to All Law, a probate lawyer is a state licensed attorney who works with the executors and the beneficiaries of an estate to settle the affairs of the decedent. So a probate lawyer would be the person to go to to help with determining how to divide assets from your mother or father after they pass.
The application of a probate lawyer’s expertise is a welcome one: these situations can often turn complex or even cause rifts between family members if the late member of the family did not clearly layout their estate planning. That’s why it’s important to plan your estate earlier. If you need help with that, read one of our other blog posts: The Importance of Estate Planning & How to Get Started.
How Is This Different From An Estate Lawyer?
The difference between an estate lawyer and a probate lawyer involves the timeframe in which their services are necessary: an estate lawyer can be seen as a preparatory professional, meaning that they would handle someone’s affairs prior to their passing. They would work with someone to write their will clearly and plainly so that everything would be clearly outlined and understood in terms of distributing their estate.
To learn more about an estate lawyer and when and why you would need one, read this great article from PolicyGenius: When Should You Hire an Estate Lawyer.
Markesbery & Richardson has proudly served the Greater Tristate community for well over 30 years. We pride ourselves on our history of excellent legal service and our clients satisfaction. If you need legal advice or the assistance of a probate lawyer, please do not hesitate to reach out to us here.
