How to Prepare to Meet with a Cincinnati Probate Lawyer
By Barry Zimmer on June 15th, 2017 in Probate
A Cincinnati probate lawyer can offer aid to those who are going through the probate process following a death. The probate process can be complicated and it is essential for those who play a vital role in the probate process to have the right legal representation to make certain they fulfill their obligations and protect their rights. Zimmer Law Firm can offer the necessary help to those who are involved with probate so you can make sure the wishes of the deceased are honored and an inheritance is protected.
If your loved one has died, you should contact a Cincinnati probate lawyer right away. As you prepare to meet with an attorney, there are a few things you can do to get ready in the meantime to make your meeting as productive as possible and to make it possible for your probate lawyer to help you get the probate process underway as quickly as possible.
Preparing to Meet with a Cincinnati Probate Lawyer
Calling a probate lawyer as soon as you can after death is a good idea because the probate process is lengthy, with Investopedia estimating the process may take around a year. Some estates take more time, others less, but the process is always going to be time-consuming and you want to get it done as soon as possible.
To make certain your attorney can help you to move forward with the probate process in a timely manner, you should do a few things to get ready before your first meeting with a Cincinnati probate lawyer. You should:
- Obtain a certified copy of the death certificate.
- Assemble relevant paperwork, including copies of insurance policies, financial statement, a last will and testament, and trust documents.
- Begin making an account of all of the assets in the deceased’s estate.
- Prepare a list of questions so you’re ready to ask the probate lawyer about how the probate process will work and what the lawyer’s qualifications are to help you through the process.
Zimmer Law Firm can offer you assistance with the probate process, no matter how prepared- or unprepared- you are during the process. Our legal team will also help you to determine if there is anything you need to do before meeting with a lawyer or anything you should be sure to bring to the meeting.
Who Should Meet With a Cincinnati Probate Lawyer
The executor of an estate should definitely meet with a probate lawyer, as the executor of an estate has a fiduciary duty to manage property of the deceased and to fulfill a formal legal role during the probate process. The executor of an estate is the person with the most responsibility during the entirety of the probate process and should have a knowledgeable lawyer offering assistance in ensuring that every step of the probate process is done properly.
Heirs or beneficiaries have a lot at stake in the probate process, although their formal role is not as big as the role of the executor of a will. While heirs or beneficiaries don’t begin managing the property they inherit right away and do not have to file for probate, they do want to have a lawyer helping them monitor the actions of the executor of an estate during the probate process to ensure that everything is going smoothly.
Finally, anyone who is going to contest a will will need to be prepared to make technical arguments about will creation and will need a legal advocate to help them make these arguments successfully. Zimmer Law Firm offers aid to those who want to contest a will they do not believe reflects the wishes of the deceased, and we also help those who defend a will from a contest to protect an inheritance. Give us a call to discover more about the services we provide.
Getting Help from A Cincinnati Probate Lawyer
Zimmer Law Firm aims to make the probate process as easy and streamlined as possible after a death has occurred. As you cope with grief and take on the responsibility of managing the assets of the deceased, you do not want to be left struggling to deal with complex legal issues.
Let Zimmer Law Firm help. You can find out more about what to expect during the probate process by joining us for a free seminar. You can also give us a call at 513.721.1513 to find out more about the ways in which a Cincinnati probate lawyer can help you. Call today so we can start the probate process so you can move through the process quickly and move on with your life.