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Home » Who Should Have a Probate Lawyer

Who Should Have a Probate Lawyer

June 7, 2018Probate

Indianapolis probate attorneys

Indianapolis probate attorneys can help to make the probate process when someone has passed away and assets must be transferred in probate court. The probate process can be time consuming and costly, and many people find it to be stressful. This is why so many people make an estate plan to try to avoid the probate process so their heirs or beneficiaries can inherit more quickly outside of court. Unfortunately, if your loved one has passed and plans have not been made to avoid probate, you will have no choice but to proceed with the process. 

Frank & Kraft can provide you representation during probate and can handle the legal issues for you so you can focus on grieving your loss and moving on.  We can provide representation to all those who are involved in the probate process. If your loved one has died and you are not sure if you need an attorney to help you through probate, you should give us a call to get personalized advice. You can also read on to find out who should take advantage of the services of Indianapolis probate attorneys.

Who Should Have a Probate Lawyer?

Anyone who is going through the probate process should typically have a probate lawyer to guide them through. The probate process can require filing court paperwork and tax paperwork, and it can be complicated to understand what your rights and your obligations are during the process. You want to ensure that estate assets are protected and that the wishes of the deceased are respected so involving an attorney as soon as possible is usually a smart course of action.

In particular, some of the people who should be represented by a probate lawyer during the probate process include:

  • The executor of an estate: An executor has almost all of the responsibility during the probate process. Executors need to file court paperwork, take care of estate assets, provide notice to potential heirs or beneficiaries, file paperwork with taxing authorities, and facilitate the formal transfer of estate assets. They also have a fiduciary duty so are obligated to fulfill their duties with reasonable care. If you are the executor, hiring an attorney is essential.
  • Potential heirs or beneficiaries: If you stand to inherit after someone has passed away, you have the most to lose if problems arise during the probate process. You should reach out to an attorney so you will have an advocate on your side who can oversee the probate process and who can ensure that everything goes smoothly so your inheritance is protected. Frank & Kraft can help you to monitor the actions being taken by the executor and the unfolding of the probate process to ensure that no assets are being mismanaged and that the probate process is proceeding as it should so you can inherit in a timely and cost-effective way.
  • Those who wish to contest a will: If you have reason to believe that a will being presented to be probated isn’t an accurate reflection of the wishes of the deceased, you owe it to your deceased loved one to contest the will. It will be up to you to prove there is a problem and the will should not be probated, so give us a call to get help from Indianapolis probate attorneys who can help you to make a compelling case.

Frank & Kraft can provide help during probate, no matter what role you have to play in the process. Whether you are taking responsibility for overseeing estate administration as an executor, want to ensure your inheritance is protected, or believe that a last will and testament being presented for probate isn’t an accurate reflection of the wishes of the deceased, we can help you.

Getting Help from Indianapolis Probate Attorneys

Indianapolis probate attorneys at Frank & Kraft can provide help to executors, heirs or beneficiaries, those who wish to contest a will, and others involved in probate. We also provide assistance with the creation of a comprehensive estate plan that would allow your loved ones to avoid the probate process after you pass away. To find out more about the help that we can offer to you with probate and estate issues, join us for a free seminar. You can also give us a call at 317-684-1100 or contact us online today.

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Paul A. Kraft, Estate Planning Attorney
Paul A. Kraft, Estate Planning Attorney
Paul Kraft is Co-Founder and the senior Principal of Frank & Kraft, one of the leading law firms in Indiana in the area of estate planning as well as business and tax planning.

Mr. Kraft assists clients primarily in the areas of estate planning and administration, Medicaid planning, federal and state taxation, real estate and corporate law, bringing the added perspective of an accounting background to his work.
Paul A. Kraft, Estate Planning Attorney
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