Estate administration is the court process for transferring someone’s assets to their heirs or beneficiaries after they have passed away. To start the estate administration process, one must file a petition with the probate court. In Georgia Probate Courts, there are many different types of petitions to chose from when filing to open a probate estate. Once you have determined the appropriate petition to file with the Probate Court an executor or administrator (also known as a Personal Representative) must be appointed by the probate court judge. The probate court will issue Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration depending on if there is a will or not. Once Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration have been signed by the judge the estate administration process can officially begin.
The estate administration process can involve several aspects that the Executor or Administrator will be responsible for throughout the entire process. The Personal Representative must notify heirs of the estate being opened, locate and “marshal” all the estate assets, obtain appraisals, prepare inventory, file annual returns, post publication to notify creditors of the estate, confirm all the debts that must be paid from the estate, file any tax returns required, pay estate taxes (if applicable), pay all debts and expenses of the estate in the order required by Georgia probate law, make distributions to the heirs or beneficiaries, and file the petition for discharge to close out the estate administration.
Each probate estate is different and will require specific attention to its unique set of issues that need to be handled through the estate administration process. Often the executor or administration has never handled a probate and estate administration before. This can lead to complications as there are a plethora of issues that can arise in every probate estate. There are statutory deadlines that must be complied with and managing all the expectations of family members can make a big difference in how smoothly the estate administration will go. If an Executor or Administrator does not follow all of the Georgia probate laws correctly they can be putting themselves at risk for personal liability.
Having an experienced Atlanta probate attorney by your side through the estate administration process can make a huge difference. Our clients often tell us they feel such relief as soon as they hire our probate firm to assist them. Having a knowledgeable and trusted ally by your side can make the probate process easier, faster, and less stressful. Our Georgia probate attorneys have handled all types of probate cases and helped hundreds of families navigate the overwhelming and burdensome probate and estate administration process in Georgia.
Our firm prides itself on providing one-on-one attention to all of our clients to give them not only top-notch legal expertise but emotional support to help them through the estate and probate process. If you are in need of guidance and support with a Georgia probate estate give us a call today at 770-285-8229 to set up your free consultation with one of our experienced Georgia probate attorneys.