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Probate

Our Compassionate, Highly Knowledgeable Probate Attorneys Can Help You Navigate & Simplify The Complex Probate Process After The Death Of A Loved One.

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If you are visiting this page because you have recently lost a family member, let us first say before anything else how deeply sorry we are for your loss. We understand that death can be extremely difficult emotionally. It can also be hard on you financially and even legally, depending on the state of your loved one’s affairs at the time of their passing. Their estate – everything they owned – may have to undergo a court process known as probate before it can officially be transferred to you and the other beneficiaries.

Unfortunately, probate can be confusing. It can also be expensive and time-consuming, particularly if there are disagreements among family members or there are creditor claims that necessitate litigation. Because your inheritance may be at stake, and because trying to fill out paperwork and sort through legalities is the last thing anyone wants to do while they’re grieving, it is in your best interests to have quality legal representation and guidance on your side. The experienced attorneys at the Law Offices of Patel & Cardenas can lead you to the quickest, most efficient resolution possible. We can make your probate journey easier. Call today to schedule a free initial consultation and learn more.

We Focus On Probate Guidance & Probate Disputes/Litigation. Trust Us To Achieve The Best Resolution While Protecting Your Rights & Your Loved One’s Wishes.

In order for the probate process to begin, someone must be named as the estate’s executor. If a will was left behind, this person will usually be named in the will; if not, the court will appoint a personal representative to oversee probate instead, usually the closest surviving family member. The executor/personal representative has many legal responsibilities. They must meet deadlines, submit petitions and documentation to the court, formally notify all heirs, negotiate with creditors, file tax returns, manage the assets until they are distributed, and more. 

If you find yourself in the role of estate executor or personal representative, our lawyers can explain what is required of you and assist you as you carry out your duties. We’ll essentially handle everything for you, preventing mistakes that could result in further legal complications, prolong the process, or incur additional fees. If a legal conflict does arise (such as a disgruntled family member claiming that you are cheating them out of their inheritance or a creditor making a larger claim on the estate than they are entitled to), we are well-equipped to defend your interests! 

If you are an heir, we can also represent you. Sometimes estate executors don’t carry out their duties with integrity, and even family members you thought could be trusted may try to take advantage of you when a large inheritance is involved. We can hold them accountable and ensure that you receive what you are entitled to! 

Our attorney team can help you with a variety of probate matters, including:

  • Submitting the will and required documents to the court
  • Collection, valuation, care of, and distribution of assets
  • Accounting actions (we have a CPA who is experienced at handling probate and estates at our disposal)
  • Tax filing and appeals
  • Intestacy issues (when someone passes away without a will)
  • Will contests/testamentary challenges (if the will is accused of being fraudulent, obtained through undue influence, or otherwise invalid)
  • Creditor claims
  • Contested transfers
  • Fiduciary malfeasance/misconduct (if the executor is accused of stealing from the estate)
  • Fiduciary removal (naming someone else as the executor)
  • Trust administration, contests, and reformation
  • Inheritance disputes
  • Selling real estate
  • And more.

Why Choose The Law Offices of Patel & Cardenas?

At our law firm, we never lose sight of you as a person going through grief. Our main goal is to minimize your stress so you can focus on mourning and moving forward with your life. We have 6+ attorneys on our team who are licensed in both New York and New Jersey and who have 30 years of collective experience in estate planning, real estate law, bankruptcy law, and family law; our extensive knowledge across these legal disciplines can be highly beneficial to you depending on the specifics of your loved one’s estate, as you will almost inevitably encounter these different areas as you navigate probate. We are also litigation professionals who are comfortable in a courtroom and who aren’t intimidated by the possibility of fighting for your rights. Our attorneys frequently win cases that others turn away! To date, the Law Offices of Patel & Cardenas has offered responsive legal service to over 1,300 clients. You can rely on us to do the same for you. Contact us today to discuss your options and next steps.

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Law Offices of Patel & Cardenas
Law Offices of Patel & Cardenas
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Mario GarzonaMario Garzona
14:15 27 Mar 23
Thank to Patel and Cardanas. They helped us with an extreme amount of litigation with a partition real estate case. It’s allways difficult fighting with family but they navigated all the twists and turns we’re experienced and prepared to deal with it all. The outcome was better than anticipated I would use them and 100 percent recommend then. Thanks too Veer and John for the amazing work
Monica OzMonica Oz
02:29 03 Jan 23
I had a wonderful experience working with Veer Patel. He worked hard for me and got me the best possible result. His fees were reasonable and there were no surprise charges. He was also very compassionate regarding my circumstances. Mr Patel is skillful in explaining complex legal processes in layman's terms. He was always available for me night and day and would always return calls promptly. I would highly recommend him to anyone in need of legal services.
Mustafa PachaMustafa Pacha
22:06 18 Nov 22
A respectable law firm. The attorneys & staff are courteous, prompt with return calls/emails and provide me with exceptional attention. As a first time home buyer, their patience with me was exceptional. Would definitely recommend to anybody who is looking for a real estate lawyer for their next closing
Melissa DuranMelissa Duran
21:19 01 Nov 22
Veer Patel and John Voorhees helped me file a partition against my ex boyfriend in April 2022 and in Nov 2022 I am happy to say my case was settled. I am beyond grateful to have chosen them for my legal battle. They were knowledgeable of the process, hard working, dedicated, and detailed. It was great to work with a team who I knew was fighting hard for me. I 100% recommend working with this law firm and would work with them again.
DhokhadhariNala LaroDhokhadhariNala Laro
00:45 23 Sep 22
True evil exists in this world and you DON'T want to meet it. If you do meet it, you need assistance from people who can fight it, such as this law firm. Mr. Patel and his associates helped me fight evil. That is not an elementary task.I saw a very few 1-star reviews of the firm (some pretty old). As you know, some people who write reviews on Amazon or elsewhere are not reliable reviewers and you cannot take their comments seriously. You decide.Read on if you care about my story (or skip it if you are satisfied that I rated them 5 stars). You will see the depths of evil that exist and what you can do. It may be too big to tackle on your own, so you need some expert help to navigate a way out.You know true evil exists, but you don't think too much about that fact or it would paralyze you. People would rather safely view evil on a fictional crime show, confident that they will never meet it in real life. You have seen evil yourself on television, but, unlike me, you may not have met it in person.I see true evil when I turn on the television and see sworn members of the US government utter completely false statements, assertions demonstrably untrue, but which they assume I will believe. My jaw hangs open at the malevolence of such action, the blatant dishonesty, the disregard for me as a citizen, the insidious diminution of my personal rights, the insatiable hunger for power and control that it exposes.Such people do not walk around enveloped by a cloud of green smoke; you won't realize it, at first, when you have met such a person. Hannah Arendt knew that and described it as the "banality of evil."Meeting evil doesn't have to mean encountering Ted Bundy in a parking lot. Evil can do things other than kill you. They are people with no conscience. Those are the most dangerous foes because they acknowledge no limits.I met such a person and, unfortunately, conducted business with him.He lied to me repeatedly and actively worked to prevent me from finding out the truth. He nimbly worded his sentences to avoid saying the words that would clue me in to the truth. Someone else knew the truth, so he tried to prevent me from talking to her. He even, perversely, tried to verbally prod me into thanking him for his seeming generosity, all the time knowing that he was very far short of generous. He knew what he was doing and did it with the cool efficiency of a member of the Sicherheitsdienst. He has apparently made a profitable career of it.After my lawsuit was filed, he lied frequently and extensively in court filings under oath and falsified evidence to deflect blame from himself, temporarily fooling even my own lawyers. He insisted he was actually the victim and expressed phony outrage that anyone would say he had been lying.It was like seeing one of the pernicious television people I described above, but in real life.True evil. No conscience. Chilling.You should pray you do not meet such a person. You would gasp in horror if I told you from which profession he had retired.Mr. Patel and the lawyers at this firm did some adroit legal work to set things right. The firm provides service in different legal areas, but I can only comment on the case for which I hired them, which is in the litigation area.You don't go to a reconstructive plastic surgeon to put 4 stitches into a laceration your son got on his leg sliding into base in Little League. Your insurance company would tell you it is a waste to use such an expert--a resident in the ER can do it instead. Similarly, you probably don't use these lawyers for a routine house closing. That would be a waste.You use these lawyers for complicated work.Mine was a complicated case requiring legal research and artful construction of court filings and we got a good result. That is why I recommend them.
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The Law Offices of Patel & Cardenas

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