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Probate is a complicated legal endeavor that grieving families may have to undertake following the death of a loved one in Georgia. The goal of probate is to successfully “close” the estate through a series of legal steps – to transfer all of the deceased person’s assets and belongings to their beneficiaries (either according to their will, or if there was no will, according to Georgia’s intestate laws). If you have recently lost a family member and have been named as the personal representative in charge of overseeing this court process, you may be completely overwhelmed by the task ahead of you. That’s why probate lawyers exist. The compassionate guidance of a Georgia probate lawyer can help make this difficult time easier on you and your family.
*Peach State Probate can assist you with all of your probate needs. Call today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how our firm can serve you.
Most people have never heard of probate until they’re facing it, and aren’t familiar with what probate involves or what probate lawyers do. Here are the two most important things you need to know about probate, which are also the reasons why enlisting the assistance of a probate lawyer is highly recommended.
The first is that probate is time-consuming. Depending on whether or not there was a will left behind, the validity/clarity of that will, how many beneficiaries your deceased loved one had, the size of their estate (not how big their house was, although that can play a role, but rather how much money and how many possessions they had), and how fast the court works, probate in Georgia could take anywhere from 6 months to 24 months to resolve…or even longer. Generally, according to many Georgia probate firms, probate takes an average of 12-18 months.
That’s a long time to spend taking care of legalities. On your own, you’ll have to spend time doing the research to find out what steps to take next and what’s required of you. You’ll have to spend time communicating with the different parties involved and handling a lot of paperwork. All of this is on top of planning a funeral, burying your loved one, and mourning their loss. The more time you spend on probate matters, the longer it’s going to be before you can really start to move forward with your life after your loss.
Georgia probate lawyers have extensive legal knowledge of how probate works and have helped numerous (sometimes hundreds or thousands) of families through the process. Working with them can drastically decrease the amount of personal time you spend navigating probate and likely result in a faster resolution being achieved overall, as they can prevent mistakes that can prolong the process. This leads us to the second thing you should know about probate….
Making mistakes as you journey through the probate process can cost you time, money, peace, and even relationships. There are many fees and deadlines associated with probate. These fees include appraisal fees, land survey fees, accounting fees, court fees, filing fees (in Georgia, filing documents costs $2 per page, which can quickly add up), publication fees, and more. Again, it depends on the specific circumstances of your loved one’s estate, but probate could end up costing thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. If you miss any deadlines, you could incur additional fees. You will have to pay taxes and pay outstanding debts to creditors.
The good news is that you won’t have to pay any of this out of your own pocket. All of these fees, taxes, and debts are paid out of the estate itself. However, the more money you spend in probate, the less money is left over as an inheritance for yourself and your loved ones. A Georgia probate lawyer can help you save costs and keep the process as efficient as possible. They can settle debts with creditors for less than the amount owed, instead of just paying them outright. They can ensure that you don’t miss deadlines or incur unnecessary fees. They can find ways to legally minimize estate taxes.
Lawyers can also make litigation less likely to occur. Death and probate can be stressful for families, and when money is being distributed, tensions may rise. If there is a debate about the validity or the contents of the will, or if there was no will and there are disagreements about how your deceased loved one’s estate should be divided, conflict can occur. You could be held personally liable for any choices that family members disagree with if you aren’t careful with your actions as the personal representative and if you don’t have legal representation; you could potentially be sued. Because working out lawsuits can cost even more time and money, it’s better to have a lawyer who can foresee conflicts and help settle them before they get to the litigation stage.
But what does a Georgia probate lawyer actually do for you? A probate lawyer’s job is not merely to advise you, but to take the burden of probate off you; to handle everything they can for you so that you can focus on being there for your family instead of trying to complete the confusing and frustrating process on your own. They can answer your questions, explain your options, and help you with every aspect of the following:
Losing someone you love is one of the toughest life experiences you’ll ever go through. Don’t go through it by yourself. Trust Peach State Probate to simplify the way forward! Peach State Probate was created to give grieving families like yours a better way to navigate the probate process; not stressfully, but confidently – not alone, but with compassionate legal guidance that can make a major difference in how efficiently and quickly probate is resolved. Our lead attorney, Calvin A. Edwards, Jr., will take care of everything for you and protect you from any probate pitfalls. Call today to book a free consultation and learn what Peach State Probate can do to serve you during this challenging time!
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Disclaimer: The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute an attorney-client relationship.
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