Administering an estate is a difficult task. To make things even more complicated and stressful, the estate often belonged to a beloved friend or family member. Not only are you left trying to understand New Jersey’s probate laws and manage accounting tasks, you are also still mourning the loss of someone who played a major role in your life.
At Bratton Law, we have a team of lawyers, social workers, and a registered nurse who can help you manage the estate administration process from beginning to end. We offer not only practical advice and guidance, but also compassionate support. Let an estate administration lawyer in Gloucester Township, NJ handle the legal and financial stresses associated with estate administration, so you can focus on healing.
Call our office today at 856-857-6007 to get started.
Let Our Gloucester Township Estate Administration Attorneys Help You
Unless you regularly handle the tasks required to administer an estate, it can be confusing and stressful. We can lessen your anxiety and make the whole process go smoothly. We will talk you through each task, step by step. We can help you execute any will or administer any estate.
As administrator of a will, you have a number of tasks you must complete. Some of these are relatively easy, but others are significantly more complex. They include:
- Paying final bills and paying off debts
- Identifying assets
- Putting a value on all assets
- Determining the tax burden and filing the appropriate returns
- Obtaining release and refunding bonds
- Distributing assets, if any remain
- Overseeing other provisions of the will or estate plan
This may require the help of not only attorneys to guide the process, but also other professionals. We may work closely with accountants, appraisers, and others when administering a high-net worth estate. We have these and other resources standing by, ready to call on if we need them.
Understanding The New Jersey Probate Process
Not all wills require probate in New Jersey. We can help you understand any applicable laws and explain if you need to enter the will into probate or not. If you do, we can guide you through the process. In general, if a spouse dies and leaves all assets to a surviving spouse, and they share all assets already, no probate is necessary. In most other cases, a visit to the Probate Court needs to occur.
When you enter a will into probate, you authorize the Court to check its authenticity. In most cases, with modern wills prepared by attorneys, this is pretty simple. Still, just hearing that they have to go to the Surrogate’s Court makes some people feel uneasy. When we explain the process to you and help you understand what you need to do, it will likely reduce much of your stress. Having us by your side also helps allay the worry and fear.
The Surrogate is an elected official who handles probating wills. Their “court” is likely to be their office and is much less formal than the courtrooms you see on television or during a criminal trial. In some cases, you will not even need to meet with the Surrogate. A clerk in their office can sign off on it, and you can begin your executor duties.
Most modern wills created with the help of an attorney are self-proving, meaning they include all the signatures, witness signatures, and the notary stamp necessary to ensure it is not fraudulent. This makes probating a will as quick as looking at it and signing off.
Occasionally, you may need to provide another signed document, have a witness of the signing of the will accompany you, or take other evidence with you to the Surrogate’s Court. When we look over the will to determine whether it requires entrance into probate, we can advise you if this will be necessary.
Bratton Law’s Gloucester Township, NJ, Estate Administration Services
We can handle any administration-related task and guide you through any bumps in the road you encounter. We regularly help clients in Gloucester Township enter wills into probate, handle the duties required as the executor of a will, and manage the estate administration process after the death of a friend or loved one.
We can explain what you should expect both from the legal process and emotionally as you navigate these often-sensitive waters. Our team of lawyers, social workers, and a registered nurse are here to provide not only legal advice, but also compassionate support.
Some of the most common estate administration and probate services we provide in Gloucester Township include:
- Explaining your responsibilities as an administrator or executor
- Providing guidance through each step of the process
- Explaining tax implications, and filing the appropriate forms
- Understanding federal and state estate and inheritance taxes
- Funding trusts as required in the estate plan
- Managing charitable gifts requested by the will
- Reporting charitable gifts to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office as required
- Providing resources to help with appraising assets and distributing them
- Representing you in any conflicts or estate litigation that occurs
If a loved one died and you need help executing the will or otherwise administering their estate, we can help. We can help you through even the most intricate situations, reducing the chances of disputes or settling any before they lead to litigation.
We can make the entire process much easier on you, reducing stress and walking with you through each step. If you are not sure what you need to do next, all you have to do is call us and you will have an estate administration attorney who can provide advice, offer support, and even call in help from experts when necessary.
Talk to An Estate Administration Attorney in Gloucester Township
At Bratton Law, we represent executors and estate administrators who need help or representation while managing their loved one’s final wishes and distributing their remaining assets. Call us at 856-857-6007 to schedule an appointment with one of our lawyers today.
