What Is Probate and Why Should You Care?

Probate is a term that you may have heard but don’t really know what it refers to. In fact, this is an imprtant term because in the United States, is governs the proper disposition of a deceased person’s assets and other wishes. You may wish to learn more about this. If so, it may be prudent to contact a probate lawyer services Ponte Vedra Beach FL.

A Primer About Probate 

Probate, from the Latin meaning “something proved”, is a legal term in today’s parlance defined as the review and determination of the valid disposition of assets in a will. It also refers to the general administration of a deceased person’s will and their associated affairs. 

During the probate process, the will, last testament, and any other legal papers are evaluated. Onre of the first parts of this process is that that legal team will determine if the deceased indeed does have a valid will. If not, the person is deemed to have died “intestate“, i.e, withour a proper will. The probate process for an intestate case involves distributing the decedent’s assets according to state laws.

In most cases, the deceased person’s will designates a legal representative known as an “executor” who will have legl standing in court. The executor is responsible for locating and overseeing all the assets of the deceased.

Why You Need To Savvy About Probate

If you or a loved on dies intestate, then the state, not the wishes of an individial, will dettermine the disposition of assets. Many loved ones may be deeply disturbed by the court’s decisions. Thay is why it is important to have  proper will in place before death.

Finding a Good Probate Lawyer

A good probate lowyer will ensure that a proper will is crafted while the person is alive and of sound mind. Working iwth a good peovabte lawyer make sense for almost everyone.