Losing a loved one is a challenging experience on the emotional, practical and legal levels. On top of grieving, families are burdened with a sometimes perplexing probate process of wrapping up the decedent’s estate. At Navigate Law Firm, I will guide you through the Maryland probate process so that you can do what often feels like a thankless task with confidence.
Probate is the court-supervised process of managing, accounting for and distributing a loved one’s property. Although Maryland’s probate process is relatively streamlined, it can be a long and complicated process, especially if you’re trying to figure it out yourself. How difficult it will be depends on a number of factors including the level of conflict among the interested persons, the legal issues and the state of affairs the decedent left behind. The Personal Representative (a.k.a. PR, Executor) of the Estate is in charge of managing the estate, filing certain documents with the Register of Wills and various other tasks such as securing appraisals, filing taxes, selling assets and managing an estate account. At the end of the process the PR, after securing court approval, distributes what remains after the expenses of administration are paid, to those named to take in the will or, if no valid will exists, to those named as takers by the intestate statute, that is, the “default will” for those who don’t have one.
As an attorney who focuses on helping families during this challenging time, I assist PRs in navigating every step of the Maryland probate process. Executors have the important job of ensuring that the estate is handled responsibly. This role carries a fiduciary duty to follow the law including by treating all beneficiaries fairly. Some mistakes that a PR makes, even inadvertently, can lead to personal liability. Having a knowledgeable attorney guide you through the process can provide peace of mind and help you avoid costly errors.
My goal is to take the legal weight of probate off your shoulders so you can focus on the practical side of things such as securing property, placing all estate monies into the estate account, getting property appraised and giving me the documents I need to complete and file the forms that need to be filed. Whether you are named in the will as the PR of a Maryland estate or you’re an interested person who disagrees with how the PR is handling the estate, reach out to me for guidance. Contact Navigate Law Firm today to learn how I can support you through this process.
