After someone dies
You don’t have to carry the whole list at once
Probate is a set of steps, and they come in an order. We keep the list, tell you which one is next, and do the legal parts.
We find out whether there is a will and who is named to carry it out. We file with the court, notify the people who need to hear, and keep a running tally of what’s owed and what’s left. When a house or land is part of the estate, we sort out the title so it can pass to the right people. Many estates are simpler than families fear, and we say so when that’s true.
What we handle
Filing with the court and notifying heirs
Locating the will, accounts and property
Paying the final bills and taxes from the estate
Passing the house, car and accounts on
In order
Probate, one step at a time
A simple estate is quoted as a flat fee once we’ve read the papers. Court fees are paid by the estate, apart from our fee. A contested estate is billed by the hour, and we’ll say so before we start.
- 01
Step 1: The first call
We ask who has died, whether there’s a will, and what the family needs first.
- 02
Step 2: Opening the estate
We file the paperwork and the court names the person who’ll carry out the will.
- 03
Step 3: Gathering and paying
We list what the estate owns and owes, and the representative pays what’s due.
- 04
Step 4: Passing it on
Property is retitled to the people entitled to it, and the estate is closed.
What families ask in the first week
Does every estate go through probate?
No. What’s held in a trust, or passes by a beneficiary form or joint title, often doesn’t. We look at what your family member left and tell you what needs the court.
How long does it take?
A simple estate commonly takes several months. A house to sell, a missing will or a disagreement can add more, and we update you at each step.
Can the family handle some of it themselves?
Sometimes. We’ll tell you which parts need a lawyer and which you can do, so you only pay for what you need.
Tell us who you’ve lost, and what’s pressing
We’ll start with the next thing that has a date on it.