What is probate?
Probate is the court proceeding through which a will is declared to be valid, and the estate of a decedent is administered. The probate process begins when an event triggers a provision in your estate plan, such as incapacity or death. The plan becomes 'executory,' meaning that the individuals you designated in your plan documents must step into action and execute according to your instructions. The process generally includes collecting a decedent's assets, liquidating liabilities, paying necessary taxes, and distributing property to heirs. David Keast can help you through this trying process.
Resolving Probate and Estate Issues
To have the probate or administration process go as smooth and cost-effective as possible, you will find haveing the services of an attorney who concentrates on estate law essential. David Keast truly understands both the big picture and the small details. Estate administration can be complicated, and the people you have designated will need to have a competent and experienced adviser to guide them through the process. W. David Keast can be that adviser.
Your designee must make significant decisions and sometimes rather quickly and may feel having someone to counsel with through the process an added bonus. Someone will need to prepare inventories of your property, prepare tax returns, or sign other vital documents on your behalf. Ultimately they must divide and distribute your wealth to those individuals or charities you stated in your will or trust agreement. David Keast can be there to help and counsel your designee.
W. David Keast is well versed in all aspects of estate law, including:
- Uncontested estate administration, including cases that qualify for full administration, relief from administration and summary release from administration
- Will contests and inheritance disputes that call for the assistance of an attorney
- Probate litigation and contested probate cases
- Appointment and removal of executors of estates
- Identification of assets and debts
- Adoption and guardianships
- Rights of the beneficiary
- Estate tax matters
- Guardianship and conservatorship issues, including those that relate to elderly parents
Whether you need assistance in reviewing estate plans and weighing your options, or your situation requires knowledgeable representation in court, David Keast can help.
Contact an Experienced Probate Lawyer
The estate administration process carries a lot of responsibilities. W. David Keast can help guide your loved ones through the process as straightforward, efficiently, and sensitively as possible. Contact him for a free consultation. He is an experienced probate and estate attorney who will evaluate your situation and help you understand your options.