Posted On: February 8th 2016
Writing Up a Will for Estate Plan
In the unfortunate event of losing a loved one, having a committed attorney who is well-versed in estate and probate law will quickly become a crucial resource for the executor of an estate. Balancing court filings, signature collection, and legal jargon with emotional distress can lead to misfilings and blunders that can entirely change the deceased’s will, putting assets at risk and hindering the financial security of beneficiaries. As prominent Long Island estate attorneys, the professional and knowledgeable team at Schwartz, Fang & Keating P.C. have more than 30 years of experience in estate and probate law, and have compiled three valuable reasons why working with a trusted and qualified estate lawyer is your best option in handling probate proceedings.
1) It Only Takes One Mistake…
There are approximately 1000 steps that will need to be completed when someone passes away. Each step needs to be finalized in a specific order and within a certain amount of time. The experienced lawyers at Schwartz, Fang & Keating P.C. are abreast of the system and processes needed to keep a case moving quickly and efficiently. We ensure that each step of the probate process is done correctly, working with the executor of an estate each and every step of the way.
2) Disagreements, Fights & Family Arguments…
In an ideal world, family and friends who are named beneficiaries of an estate will be easy to work with during a probate process. Unfortunately, nothing complicates familial relationships more than disagreements over finances. The benefit of working with a probate lawyer is having someone in an objective position, which can easily help to diminish any miscommunications, arguments and potential disfunction that can arise, making the probate process as smooth as possible for all parties involved.
3) Protection from Personal Liability…
The executor of an estate has an exorbitant amount of responsibility on their shoulders. Not only are they ensuring that the deceased’s wishes are carried out, but they are contending with deadlines, legalities and beneficiaries. If they are well-versed in complex legal terminology they are in a good place, but if not, the process can be overwhelming. The experts at Schwartz, Fang & Keating P.C. will take care of all paperwork, negotiating and handling creditor claims, accounting, appraising and cataloguing estate assets, final income tax filings and probate disputes and retitling of assets, so that the executor of the estate is protected from incurring any personal liability based on an accidental misstep.
Simply put, having an estate plan in place is of the utmost importance. Probate law can be a long, complex and exacting process; the professional attorneys at Schwartz, Fang & Keating P.C. take pride in guiding our clients through the probate system with sensitivity and understanding. Possessing over three decades of experience in navigating New York and New Jersey probate laws has made the firm of Schwartz, Fang & Keating P.C. one of the most desirable probate law offices on Long Island. We are here to provide expert legal support to ensure that the probate process is completed with the best possible outcome, done correctly and in a timely manner.