Most people never serve as an estate administrator more than once or twice in their life, so navigating the process is often a time-consuming and confusing process. If a family member or friend recently passed away and named you the executor of their will or administrator of their Atlantic City, NJ estate, there is no reason why you have to try to handle the steps of this process on your own.
At Bratton Estate & Elder Care Attorneys, we can take on the Atlantic City estate administration duties on your behalf. We know how to navigate this process and even have appraisers, accountants, and other experts we can call in to help if necessary.
Call an estate administration lawyer in Atlantic City, NJ at (856) 857-6007 today to learn more.
The New Jersey Estate Administration Process Requires Many Steps
It is no surprise that many people find the New Jersey estate administration process stressful and overwhelming. Navigating the process and successfully administering the estate requires you to complete many steps, some of which call for skills and expertise.
The steps of the estate administration process in New Jersey include:
- Entering the will into probate at the Atlantic County Surrogate’s Court
- Gaining legal access to your loved one’s financial accounts and other assets
- Identifying all debts and assets that are part of the estate
- Appraising or valuing all assets including real estate, collections, and other valuables
- Paying outstanding debts and final expenses
- Calculating and paying any necessary taxes
- Making financial transactions as described in the estate plan, such as funding trusts
- Making donations to charities outlined in the estate plan
- Calculating the value of the remaining assets
- Distributing them to the deceased’s family and friends according to the estate plan
These steps are overwhelming enough on their own, but many estates also include a wide variety of investments, assets spread over many accounts, hidden cash or valuables you discover after determining the value of the estate, unusual and difficult to appraise collections, and other issues that complicate matters further. High-asset estates can also be difficult to manage unless you have a background in accounting, finance, or estate law.
While it is possible to navigate these steps and handle this process on your own, it is often time-consuming and frustrating. It is also unnecessary. Reach out to us today and let us handle this process on your behalf.
For a legal consultation with a estate administration lawyer in Atlantic City, call 856-857-6007
A Lawyer Can Handle the Administration of Your Loved One’s Atlantic City Estate from Start to Finish
When you let our team take on your loved one’s Atlantic City estate administration, we will get started by entering the will into probate in the Atlantic County Surrogate Court and getting legal access to your loved one’s accounts. Then, an estate administration lawyer in Atlantic City, NJ will navigate the rest of the process on your behalf. This will include:
- Identifying all financial accounts, including both assets and debts
- Identifying all other valuable assets including real estate, collections, and more
- Enlisting the help of appraisers and experts to determine the value of real estate, collections, or other valuable items
- Calculating any debts, taxes, and final expenses, and paying them as required
- Making requested charitable donations and filing the necessary reports
- Handling all required financial transactions including funding trusts
- Distributing any remaining assets to heirs according to the estate plan
Because we know how to handle each task on this list and understand the best way to approach the process, we can often complete the administration of the estate much faster than you could on your own, and with much less stress and frustration. We handle estate administration regularly and can help with complex cases, high-asset estates, and other difficult cases.
Call Bratton Estate & Elder Care Attorneys today to learn more: (856) 857-6007.
Atlantic City Estate Administration Lawyer 856-857-6007
Understanding the New Jersey Probate Process
The first (and most important) step in estate administration is to enter the will into probate. Fortunately, New Jersey law makes this process much easier than in some other states. If you decide to handle this part on your own, you will need to take a copy of your loved one’s will to the Atlantic County Surrogate Court. This is located:
Mays Landing Criminal Court House
Main Office – Records Searches
5911 Main Street
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
Atlantic County also operates a satellite office at the Atlantic County Civil Court House. This is located:
1201 Bacharach Blvd.
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Most modern wills have a notary stamp on them and are self-proving. This means you will only need a copy of the estate plan and your loved one’s death certificate. If the will does not have a notary stamp, you may also need additional documentation to prove the will is valid. The Surrogate Court can explain what you need if you call in advance, or we can help you with this process.
Using an Estate Administration Attorney Reduces the Risk of Litigation
Another benefit to letting an estate administration lawyer from Bratton Estate & Elder Care Attorneys handle the administration of your loved one’s estate is that it can reduce the risk of disagreements, disputes, and litigation. If you worry there may be legal challenges about the validity of the will or your ability to administer the estate, enlisting our help may help prevent this.
Call us at (856) 857-6007 to get started.
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Talk to an Estate Administration Lawyer in Atlantic City, NJ
An estate administration lawyer in Atlantic City, NJ from Bratton Estate & Elder Care Attorneys can explain your options and help you get started on your loved one’s estate today. We can meet with you in Atlantic City or in one of our five offices, including Haddonfield, Cherry Hill, Trenton, or Linwood in New Jersey, or Philadelphia in Pennsylvania.
Call (856) 857-6007 now to talk to a member of our team who can answer your questions about Atlantic City estate administration.
Call 856-857-6007 or complete the Contact us form
