Experienced Legal Guidance In Probate Matters
Probate is the court-supervised process of declaring a deceased person’s will valid, taking inventory of the decedent’s assets and paying all debts. It is also called estate administration. Once a decedent’s creditors are paid, the remaining assets are distributed to beneficiaries according to directions left in the will and other estate planning documents.
What We Help Accomplish In Probate
Some assets do not need to go through probate because they pass directly to beneficiaries who are named in legal documents. Common examples include a home or another property that is jointly owned through rights of survivorship, bank accounts or retirement accounts, and life insurance policies. Often, a decedent holds assets that do not pass through probate and assets that do.
We assist individuals with all phases of estate administration, including:
- Locating all probate and nonprobate assets
- Obtaining accurate appraisals of all property
- Preparing and filing all documents required by the probate court in a timely fashion
- Settling with the decedent’s creditors
- Addressing tax issues
- Distributing assets to the decedent’s beneficiaries according to stipulations in the will, or, in the absence of a will, according to Ohio laws of intestacy
Name Changes Are Handled In Probate Court
In Ohio, a legal petition to change someone’s surname is processed in the probate division of the Court of Common Pleas. Name changes result from adoption, including stepparent adoption, divorce and other personal reasons.
Our focus on family law means we are routinely involved in helping people legally change their name.
We Protect Your Interests
If you have been named executor of an estate, we are ready to assist you. We help prevent legal disputes that can prolong the probate process and deplete an estate’s holdings. Call 513-964-4767 or use our online contact form to schedule a consultation.