Probate Administration

Broward County Probate and Estates Attorney

Losing a loved one is hard enough, without having to worry about the distribution of his or her estate. If a will was drafted, Florida probate laws require that the will be administered by the probate court. At the Coral Springs, Florida law office of Michelle Armstrong, P.A., we understand the deeply personal needs of our clients.

Probate Administration

The laws regarding probate can be difficult to understand. An experienced lawyer can simplify the process, helping you understand the various steps that need to be taken when you are administering someone's estate. If you have been named a personal representative of somebody's will, we will walk you through every step of the process:

• Taking an inventory of the decedent's property
• Determining the creditors
• Liquidating assets
• Distributing assets to beneficiaries
• Filing required taxes
• Closing the estate

Probate is necessary even when a will has been created. Probate laws ensure that a personal representative is appointed, that all debts are paid, and all assets are distributed or liquidated. If the decedent has set up a trust, a probate proceeding may not be necessary.

Estate Administration

If a trust has been set up then probate laws do not apply, but you still need to administer the estate according the Florida law on trust administration. By hiring an attorney, you can ensure the fair and legal distribution of the assets in question.

Assets not included in the trust

If there are personal assets that are not included in a trust, these assets may have to be distributed through probate. We can help you determine which assets pass outside of probate, by operation of law such as jointly held property, or life insurance proceeds, and which property needs to be administered through a probate proceeding under a pourover will.

Contact Us

Whether you are looking to create an estate plan consisting of only a will or living will, or which to include a living trust and other documents, or need to have a probate case opened in the court, we can provide you with the legal advice necessary for a smooth distribution of assets. Contact the Coral Springs, Florida law office of Michelle Armstrong, P.A. today.