Settling the Affairs of New York Residents
When the time comes to deal with the loss of a family member, it is important to hire an attorney who will advise you about the process and resolve any possible conflicts. At The Law Offices of Hugh Janow, we represent beneficiaries, executors, administrators, and others who claim to have an interest in an estate.
While we always recommend that people create a comprehensive estate plan, not all of our clients are that diligent. Questions may arise as to a family member's intentions, a fiduciary's responsibilities, and a beneficiary's rights. Contact us in our Pearl River, New York office to set up an appointment with an experienced estate, probate and administration attorney.
Probate is the process of having a will accepted by the Surrogate's Court. Administration is the process of appointing an individual to administer a decedent's assets in the absence of a will. The general steps associated with probate include:
- Proving the validity of a person's will
- Gathering, appraising, and taking inventory of estate property and debt
- Notifying creditors and settling estate debts and tax liabilities
- Distributing the remaining estate property according to the Will or the appropriate state's law if the decedent died without a Will.
No matter how thorough an estate plan appears to be, questions and disputes may still arise during probate and estate administration. Surrogate's Court is the court that settles these types of disputes. We advise executors and administrators about their duties during probate and estate administration, defending them if necessary. We will represent beneficiaries in will contests, fiduciary disputes, and inheritance disputes. Our firm often represents clients who believe they were omitted from a Will that was a result of the undue influence of another or the result of the decedent's incompetence at the time the offered Will was prepared.
Contact us at The Law Offices of Hugh Janow to speak to a lawyer about probate and estate administration. We represent clients throughout New York, including clients in Nyack, Suffern, New City, and Rockland.
