How Long Does the Will Probate Process Take?
By Barry Zimmer on January 17th, 2017 in Probate
The will probate process is a lengthy process. The specific length of time that this process will take is going to depend upon many different factors. However, if you want your loved ones to inherit right away or have assets that you cannot leave in limbo for a long time, you should explore alternatives to probate. If your loved one has passed and you must go through the probate process, it is also important to get legal help to try to make sure the process goes as quickly as possible.
Zimmer Law Firm can provide assistance with trying to streamline the probate process and move a will quickly through probate after a death. Our legal team also offers guidance during the estate planning process to assist you in facilitating the transfer of assets outside of the will probate process. Give us a call today to find out more.
How Long Does the Will Probate Process Take?
According to Investopedia, the probate process can take around a year or so, and can sometimes take much longer. During this time, the executor of an estate will have the responsibility of managing the property of the deceased and heirs or beneficiaries will not have access to estate assets.
Different factors can impact the probate process. If the estate is a very large one, the process could take longer. If there is a will contest and someone challenges whether a last will and testament is a valid reflection of the wishes of the deceased, then the probate process is going to take much longer. There have been cases where the probate process has dragged on for years, all the while the value of the estate declining.
The length of time the probate process takes is also going to depend upon how quickly the executor of an estate gets the process moving and is able to fulfill responsibilities as the executor. Zimmer Law Firm provides representation to those who are serving as executor of an estate in order to help them fulfill their duty and get a will probated in a timely manner. We also offer assistance to heirs or beneficiaries who are waiting to inherit property and who want to make sure the probate process can move quickly.
How can You Avoid the Will Probate Process?
The lengthy probate process is a big problem in many situations. If you have loved ones who depend upon you to provide for them financially, you may intend to take care of them and provide them with financial security through an inheritance. Unfortunately, these loved ones could face financial problems as they wait months or years to inherit the assets that you have left for them.
You may also have assets that you don’t want an executor of an estate to be left managing for months or years. If you have a family business or farm, for example, you likely want the new owners to take ownership right away when you pass away so the company and land can be managed appropriately with no period of uncertainty.
Fortunately, there are estate planning tools that you can use in order to allow assets to transfer outside of probate. By taking advantage of these tools, you can transfer some or all of your money, property, and other assets much more quickly. Some of the different things that you can do to try to facilitate the transfer of assets outside of probate include creation of trusts so assets can be transferred via trust administration; structuring accounts as pay on death accounts; and structuring ownership of real property so it is owned as joint tenants with rights of survivorship.
Getting Help from An Ohio Wills and Probate Lawyer
Zimmer Law Firm provides comprehensive assistance with the process of estate planning to avoid probate. We help you to evaluate different options for the transfer of assets outside of probate court and we assist you in determining if this is something that will be important to you and your loved ones. We can also help you to go through the probate process after a loved one has passed away, working hard to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible.
To find out more about the estate planning tools that can allow you to avoid probate, download our estate planning checklist. You can also give us a call at 513.721.1513 to speak with a member of our legal team and find out more about the ways in which we can help you with estate planning and with the probate process.