The death of a family member or close friend is a tragic, life-changing experience. Compounding the emotional trauma is often the idea of having to go to court to obtain the deceased’s belongings. On the surface, probate seems quite simple. The deceased person’s assets are taxed and transferred to the proper family members. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case.

Probate involves legally notifying creditors and arranging for assets to be properly assessed and divided equally or according to a will. In some cases, family members may even contest who deserves what share which is when an experience probate attorney may be able to help. Several factors to consider in probate include time frame, various taxes, and the various claims being made on the estate.