Estate Administration

Estate administration refers to the management and settlement of a decedent’s estate. Estate administration involves gathering the assets of the estate, paying the decedent’s debts, filing any required income and/or estate tax returns, and distributing the remaining assets to the beneficiaries.

If a decedent dies with assets titled solely in their name, these assets are commonly referred to as "probate assets" which must go through the Probate Court. A decedent’s estate may also include beneficiary designated assets, assets owned jointly with rights of survivorship with another, or assets held in a revocable trust.

We assist families through this process, including the probating of an estate with probate assets, determining which probate procedure is appropriate, arranging for beneficiary designated assets and jointly owned assets to pass to the beneficiary or joint owner, and assuring that the assets held in a revocable trust are properly transferred to the appropriate beneficiaries or managed in trust in accordance with the terms of the revocable trust.

In addition to gathering assets, paying debts and distributing assets to the beneficiaries, our attorneys determine whether any tax filings are required.  As experienced estate and gift tax attorneys, we work with the personal representative in the preparation and filing of federal and state estate tax returns.

Please contact us today for assistance in probating and administering a loved one's estate.