West Freehold, NJ Probate Lawyers

If you are mourning the loss of a loved one, we offer you our deepest condolences. We sincerely hope you can find strength in the memories you shared with your loved one and the family and friends who provide the support you need during this time of great loss. Unfortunately, if your loved one left an estate in New Jersey, you might soon face the challenges of navigating through probate. 

It’s not a surprise that during your time of grief, you already have a great deal to deal with. It is completely normal to experience a range of emotions, such as confusion, anger, loss, frustration, and even denial. If you were named an estate executor (also called a personal representative), an additional challenge awaits you after an extremely stressful time in your life. The legal process of probate can be quite overwhelming, taking a toll on one’s mental, physical, and financial well-being. 

Sometimes, help from an experienced and knowledgeable attorney can make the difference between a probate process that moves quickly and is well-executed versus one that wastes months of your time and far more money than is necessary. Our West Freehold probate lawyers have over 30 years of combined experience and are ready to assist you with your case. Our team is dedicated to providing you with a stress-free probate experience, ensuring a seamless process from start to finish. 

Call today to schedule a free consultation and find out more about how we can help.

Why Is Probate Necessary?

A lot of people think that having a will will save them from probate, so when a loved one passes away, they are shocked to learn that probate court is actually necessary. There are certain situations where an estate can go through a more streamlined probate process, such as when the gross value of the estate is below a certain threshold (which varies from state to state). However, the majority of estates, whether there is a will or not, must pass through probate. Our West Freehold probate lawyers can review your loved one’s estate and determine whether probate is necessary or not.

Courts in probate matters supervise the transfer of a deceased person’s property to his or her heirs or beneficiaries. If the person had a will, the named executor’s many duties in closing the estate and transferring the decedent’s property to the beneficiaries can take place; if not, the court will appoint a personal representative and have the courts distribute the assets to heirs and remove certain property from the estate to the surviving spouse according to the New Jersey laws of intestate succession.

Estate administration is known as probate because it allows the decedent’s last will and testament (which is itself a probate document) to be carried out through probate proceedings. Without probate, anyone could potentially claim a portion of the estate! If someone worked their whole life and saved money, it should go to the people they care about.

Why Do I Need A Lawyer For Probate?

Probate is notoriously slow and could take many months—and as long as two years—to resolve. You will also likely have to pay court costs, taxes, filing fees and other expenses. Should you make a mistake or fail to accomplish a task, you could be personally liable for money from the estate. Worse yet, you could be sued. You might agree that it makes sense to have an experienced estate attorney help you get things done right, quickly, and save money. 

Our West Freehold probate attorneys can help you meet your duties as executor/personal representative, including:

• Filing the will and death certificate with the court
• Filing a petition for probate 
• Get written notice to the will’s beneficiaries and creditors 
• Take inventory and appraise your deceased loved one’s assets
• File an estate tax return and pay taxes when appropriate
• Negotiate/settle debts with creditors and pay them
• Prepare a final accounting of the estate
• And more!

Rely On Our West Freehold Probate Lawyers To Help You With Your Estate

Probate is not bad in and of itself, and it is not evidence that your loved one did anything improper; most likely, they simply did not realize it was possible for them to create an estate plan that could have excluded you and your family from having to go through this process, or they simply ran out of time. Regardless of the reason, please know our attorneys are here to help ease your worries. Our team at the Law Offices of Patel & Cardenas, is ready to step in to assist you, and our goal is to take this burden off of your shoulders. Call for your free phone consultation today to learn why we come highly recommended by the people we serve every day!