The emotional ramifications from the loss of a loved one can reverberate into every area of your life. Coping with grief can be draining and you may find yourself with little energy to focus on other issues that the death has created. Unfortunately, losing a loved one can throw you into a complex and confusing world of probate and estate law. You may find yourself faced with many decisions to make that require you to understand arcane legal rules and highly-technical rules- which is the last thing you need as you cope with grief.
Cochrangersh Law Offices, P.S.C. is here to help. Our legal team can handle probate, trust administration, and the other necessary steps which must be taken after someone passes away. When you need help handling the process of winding up an estate, give us a call for personalized advice. We can provide assistance custom-tailored to your situation and can provide you with information on important issues including:
- What are the legal steps to take after someone has died?
- What should I do after the death of a loved one?
- How can a Louisville probate and estates lawyer help?
What are the Legal Steps to Take After Someone has Died?
When someone has passed away, the legal steps which must be taken will depend upon many factors including the size of the estate and the type of estate planning the deceased person did before passing away. Some of the different things which you may need to do include:
- Obtaining a death certificate.
- Making claims on life insurance policies.
- Rolling over 401(Ks), IRAs and other accounts which transfer outside of probate.
- Probate to determine the validity of the will and to facilitate the transfer of assets to new owners.
- Providing notice to creditors of the death so claims may be made on the estate.
- Trust administration if the deceased created any trusts.
- Filing a tax return for the estate if necessary and paying all required estate taxes.
Cochrangersh Law Offices, P.S.C. offers assistance with these steps and more. We can assist you with taking care of everything the law requires of you and everything you need to do to transfer the deceased’s property and wind up his affairs. We can also provide you advice on your inheritance, including what happens when a will is contested or what to do about selling the family home or other assets. Our attorneys also have experience providing assistance with more complex estates including in situations where a family business or farm must transfer to new owners.
What Should I Do After the Death of a Loved One?
One of the first things you should do after someone you love has passed away is to contact an experienced attorney who handles probate and estate matters. Your lawyer can help you to determine if the deceased had a will; can help you to obtain a death certificate and begin the process of filing insurance claims; and can assist you in beginning the probate and/or trust administration process.
If the deceased had a will, it is important to determine who has been named the executor of the estate. The executor has the responsibility of filing the petition for probate; managing assets until they transfer to new owners; and taking care of all legal steps involved in probate. A trust administrator serves a similar role in overseeing the process of transferring assets and in managing assets when a trust has been created. Both executors and trustees have a fiduciary duty and must ensure they are managing property carefully. Cochrangersh Law Offices, P.S.C. can provide representation to executors and trustees.
If your lost loved one had a will and you stand to inherit, a Louisville probate attorney can help you to make sure the executor and trustee are doing their jobs correctly. If you are concerned the will is not valid and you wish to challenge it, we can help with that too.
How Can a Louisville Probate Lawyer Help?
Cochrangersh Law Offices, P.S.C. has extensive experience providing representation to those who have lost loved ones in Louisville and in surrounding areas throughout Kentucky. We know the laws that apply to trusts and estates and we will help make the post-death process as easy as possible for you. Our attorneys are both compassionate and knowledgeable so you will have an advocate you can count on during a difficult time after a death. Give us a call today to learn more.
