Probate and Estate Administration
What is probate and estate adminstration?
It is the process of winding up the business affairs of a deceased person and distributing their assets according to their will or if they did not have a will, to the heirs according to the laws of Georgia. It includes:
- Getting an administrator or executor appointed to manage the estate
- Gathering all of the assets together
- Notifying creditors
- Filing inventories and returns if required by the Court
- Paying the debts of the estate
- Distributing the remaining assets to the heirs or beneficiaries
- Having the administrator or executor discharged from their duties and closing the estate.
Do I need to go to probate court?
Unless the deceased had no debts, no real estate and left no will, some sort of proceeding has to be filed in the probate court of the county where they lived. There are several different types of filings depending on the circumstances. Just choosing the right type of proceeding can be confusing. There is no substitute for getting a good legal opinion as soon as possible. Waiting too long can limit your options.
What if I don't think I can afford a lawyer?
We offer a number of options that will allow nearly anyone to be able to afford our help. We can coach you through the process on your own, or we can represent you. We offer a range of probate service levels and fees. We have fair flat fees for most uncontested matters, payment plans, contingency fees and even custom plans just for you. The bottom line is that we can find a way to represent nearly everyone. Don’t wait because you think you can’t afford a lawyer.
How the process works
We will contact you
You will generally receive a phone call from an attorney very quickly. If we aren’t able to reach you, we will email you and ask for a good time to call you.
Consultation
We will discuss the specifics of you matter and recommend a course of action. We will give you a proposed fee structure and discuss your options.
Hiring Decision
Once you decide to hire us to handle your matter, we will begin the process of getting you set up to work with us.
Intake
You will receive a series of emails from us requesting that you fill out an online form to give us the necessary information to begin your case as well as an Engagement Agreement that you can sign online by phone or computer.
Pay the invoice
If we have suggested a fee structure that requires a payment up front, we will send you an invoice by email that you can pay online with a credit card or check.
FREE QUOTE/CONSULTATION
Let us know a little bit about your situation and we can help you customize a solution to your problem.