There are several things a probate attorney does in New Jersey. Primarily, they help the administrators of estates or executors of wills carry out their duties. This may include:
- Validating the will
- Settling the deceased’s final affairs
- Appraising the value of the decedent’s estate
- Distributing the assets as the decedent dictated in the will
Your lawyer may also be able to help you with several other tasks related to handling your loved one’s estate and protect your rights in the event of estate litigation.
If you have questions or concerns about administering an estate or probating a will in New Jersey, the lawyers from Bratton Estate & Elder Care Attorneys can help guide you through the process and ensure it goes as smoothly as possible. Call us today at 856-857-6007 to learn more about how our services can help you.
Understanding the New Jersey Probate Process
In general, the New Jersey probate process is less complicated than in many other states. Many modern wills prepared by an attorney are self-proving. If your loved one’s will has a notary stamp, it may be self-proving. This means the Surrogate who validates the will during the probate process will not need to see additional documentation to approve the executor’s access to the accounts and assets of the deceased.
Entering most wills into probate in New Jersey requires:
- Visiting the local county Surrogate’s office, sometimes called “Surrogate’s Court”
- Meeting with the Surrogate or an approved member of their staff
- Providing them with the will
- Bringing in the witnesses, providing contact information, or taking other actions, if the will is not notarized
- Having the Surrogate or their representative validate the will
In many cases, this only takes a few minutes. And because New Jersey charges by the length of the will and not the value of the estate, it is relatively inexpensive. In some cases, however, the process gets more complicated. If you run into complications — or if you do not want to try to navigate this process on your own — you may want to enlist the help of a probate attorney.
For a legal consultation, call 856-857-6007
Let Us Help You Validate Your Loved One’s Will
If you need help entering your loved one’s will into probate, we are standing by to help. We can walk through the process of visiting the Surrogate’s court, and then guide you through the rest of the steps you must take to execute the estate as instructed in the will.
Even in cases where the probate process gets especially complex, our estate administration attorneys can help you take the necessary steps to validate the will. It is our goal to help you honor your loved one’s last wishes and to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible, so you can focus on spending time with your family and grieving your lost loved one.
Our team takes an interdisciplinary approach to every case. We have estate attorneys, social workers, and a registered nurse on staff. We give every family the compassion and attention they deserve, ensuring we fully understand your needs and how we can help you before we begin.
We Also Offer a Full Menu of Related Services
Once we enter your loved one’s will into probate, we will continue to work with you to navigate the process of executing the will. This is often much more complicated than the probate process. The services we provide during this time may include:
- Posting any necessary notifications
- Identifying and appraising assets
- Calculating any necessary taxes
- Paying bills and tying up other loose ends
- Distributing assets as described in the will
- Funding trusts or making donations as directed in the will
- Resolving conflicts in the event of a disagreement or dispute
- Providing you with legal representation if there is estate litigation
Some people opt to handle the administration of an estate on their own, but when you have a probate attorney on your side, it may reduce the chances of a dispute and give you peace of mind about navigating the entire probate process. Call us today to learn more about how we can help you settle your loved one’s estate and follow their final wishes.
Contact Us Today About the New Jersey Probate and Administration Process
The lawyers from Bratton Estate & Elder Care Attorneys are standing by to help you navigate the New Jersey probate process and execute your loved one’s will. Call us at 856-857-6007 to learn more or to get started today.
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