Why Probate Isn't A Bad Thing

The probate process is a part of the legal system that many people do their level best to steer clear of. There are, however, several good reasons why you ought to view probate law services as valuable and to your benefit. Let's look at a few of the biggest ones you should be aware of.

An Estate without a Will

If someone dies without any will to guide folks in determining the disposition of their assets, the probate process may be triggered to resolve the situation. This is obviously a good thing, because it strives to answer questions that survivors may have. In the probate lawyer services world, this means addressing questions about who the beneficiaries of an estate should be and seeing that proceeds will be distributed to them.

Protecting Your Rights

The idea can sound like something out of a bad movie, but there are sometimes concerns about whether a written will is valid and protects the rights of all parties. For example, if someone with dementia married close to the time they died and then entered new details into their will, beneficiaries would absolutely have every right to question whether the surviving spouse might have gained an unfair advantage in the will. Probate ensures that actions that were potentially sketchy, unethical, or illegal are given a serious review.

Clearing Up Specifics

Not every will that has ever been written has been written well. Even with the best of intentions, it's possible that the specific terms of a will might be unclear or contradictory. Rather than getting into a fight over the contradictions, it's often best to have an attorney sort them out.

Lack of Updates

Another issue that comes up with wills is whether they've been updated as often as they should've been. For example, a person in ill-health prior to their death might not have had the chance to conduct an annual review. If they had recently purchased a piece of real estate, that might be included in the will. Though it's no one's fault that this happened, it still needs to be addressed.

Keeping the Peace

Getting into drawn-out battles over an estate can erode important relationships. Having a probate attorney involved in the process provides a buffer, ensuring that potentially emotional disputes are contained within a legal framework. Embracing the probate process is an opportunity to leave the difficult details to a lawyer.

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