Menu

Exploring The Legal Process


About Me

Exploring The Legal Process

Hello everyone! I'm Gael Phillips. It is nice to meet you. I'm here to talk to you about criminal laws, court proceedings and legal repercussions. I feel that sharing this knowledge is important, as many people do not realize how the legal process works. My first, and only, scrape with the law left me shaken. I did not know what to expect throughout the entire case, so I felt unprepared for the outcome. I hope to share my knowledge with people who are in need of support throughout the legal process. I will also post stories full of information about past legal cases for an idea about how the law works. The legal process doesn't need to be scary and mysterious. Sharing stories can give others the insight they need about their situation. Thanks for visiting, come back often!

Latest Posts

Legal Pathways to Reclaiming Your Gun Rights
27 February 2024

In the United States, the right to bear arms is pr

How a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help You Win Your Case if You Got Hurt in a Motorcycle Accident
23 January 2024

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident

How a DUI Lawyer Can Challenge Breathalyzer and Blood Test Results
19 December 2023

If you've been charged with a DUI, you may be wond

Why Expert Legal Representation Is Essential For Your Family-Based Green Card Application
28 November 2023

Navigating the complex world of immigration law, s

Navigating Legal Labyrinths: The Role of a Big Rig Accident Attorney
27 October 2023

In the aftermath of a big rig accident, victims of

Tags

What Is Probate Law And When Will It Matter To You?

Probate law is a portion of the larger set of estate laws that cover what happens to a person's assets and obligations when they pass. If there are questions about what happened with a particular estate, such as who should be the executor, the probate system is meant to sort them out.

But when would you run into probate issues? Here is what probate entails, some of the reasons you might encounter the system, and how an attorney would likely address what's happening.

Not a Lawsuit

Litigation is separate from probate. It is certainly possible that problems with an estate or probate could lead to a lawsuit, but that's far from presumed.

Due Diligence

A lot of what a probate law office does is about due diligence, and all estates technically go through probate. The administrator of an estate, usually an executor named in the decedent's will, has to follow through on a series of duties. Likewise, they have to report to the probate court that they have done so.

For example, the executor must publish notices to inform anyone who might have an interest in the estate that the executor is currently handling it. The notice should include the name of the deceased and how to contact the executor.

Similar work goes into tracking down beneficiaries and locating assets. The executor finds and contacts the people who will receive assets from the estate. They then have a duty to report contact efforts and outcomes to the probate court. Doing do installs a check in the system to ensure that everybody's rights and interests are protected.

Filling Gaps

Probate also provides a way to fill some potential gaps left by an estate. If an executor has died since a grantor wrote their will, for example, a probate judge would address the situation. If the will names a successor to the executor, the probate court would contact that person and make sure they can do the job.

If there is no executor, the judge will name a court-appointed officer to serve as the administrator. This person does the same job as the executor, and they usually come from a legal or accounting background.

Resolving Ambiguities

Sometimes a will doesn't explain things well, overlooks something, or is simply out-of-date relative to the circumstances at the time a person passes away. The probate court makes sense of anything that an executor can't resolve. If parties have concerns or objections at that point, they or their counsel can then ask the judge for a hearing.

Contact a probate law office for more information.