Probate lawyers help personal representatives or executors of the estate manage the probate process. They are also known as trust lawyers. They also aid in  estate planning, such as the drafting of wills and trusts, give suggestions on powers of attorney, or even serve as an administrator.



Out of multiple duties that are charged to probate lawyers, they are accountable for taking a personal representative through the entire probate process from start to end. Important responsibilities can be summarized as:

• A huge part of a lawyer’s responsibilities depends upon whether or not the decedent died with a valid last will and testament. Those who do not have a last will and testament at the instance of their death is known as intestate. If this occurs, the Probate Attorney Palm Beach must be needed, who should be well versed in the probate laws of the states.
• A probate lawyer is also required to advise the beneficiary of an estate on legal and other matters presented to the beneficiary by the executor during the period of the probate process.
• Probate lawyers also play an important role while negotiations between a beneficiary who doesn't get along with or does not know the executor very well.
• They are specialized in representing executors and beneficiaries of an estate who are involved in separate lawsuits when a beneficiary questions the validity of the decedent's last will through a will contest.

How a Probate Attorney Palm Beach assists a personal representative?

The probate lawyer advises and assists the personal representative of an estate by performing the following:

• Protects both probate assets and non-probate assets
• Presents date of death values and appraisals of all of the decedent's property
• Prepares and files all papers required by the probate court in a timely manner
• Collects life insurance documents
• Creates appropriate elections with regard to retirement plans
• Advises the personal representative as to how to clear the decedent's final bills and outstanding debts
• Keeps record of the estate 's checking account
• Determines if any estate taxes and inheritance taxes will be due at the federal and state levels.
• Helps the personal representative in determining from where the cash will come from
• Aids the personal representative as to how income tax issues should be addressed.
• Addresses disputes among personal representatives and beneficiaries
• Assists with the sale of property
• Requests the court’s permission for various actions
• Titles the decedent's real estate into the names of the estate beneficiaries
• Distributes the leftover assets to the beneficiaries after paying bills and taxes