When someone passes away, dealing with their death can be exceptionally challenging. Unfortunately, you may have to plan a funeral and handle the probate process, all while grieving the loss of your loved one. As such, this process can become overwhelming, so familiarizing yourself with the steps can help make this period more manageable. One thing you must consider is how much probate will cost. The following blog explores more about this process while explaining how an experienced Pasco County, FL probate lawyer can assist you through this challenging time.
What Is Probate?
When someone passes away, the courts must validate their estate during a process known as probate. Generally, they are looking for someone to give your property to.
Most commonly, those who pass away with a will must have their will authenticated to ensure it is valid and legally binding. Once it is validated, an estate administrator will begin distributing assets according to the estate plans left by the deceased.
If someone passes away without a will, the courts will declare their estate intestate. As such, they will follow Florida’s intestate line of succession to distribute the assets left by the deceased.
What Can Influence How Much Probate Will Cost?
Unfortunately, probate can be a complex process, especially when your estate is large and contains many complex assets.
Generally, there are many fees associated with the probate process. This includes filing fees, bond fees and reimbursement fees. Unfortunately, depending on the size of your estate, you may find that these fees can be significantly higher than if you had fewer complex assets.
Other factors that can influence how much probate costs include whether or not a property appraisal is necessary and whether or not a business valuation occurs. Similarly, if someone contests the will it can increase the cost as it will delay the process.
What Should I Do if I Need Assistance?
It’s important to understand that you can enlist the assistance of a probate lawyer to help you through this process. Unfortunately, many confuse the probate and estate planning processes, but they differ dramatically. Estate planning attorneys work with the living to establish wills and trusts to help them plan for what happens after death.
Probate attorneys will step in to handle the administration of the estate following the death of an individual, which can be a particularly complex process if you are unfamiliar with how to proceed.
At the Law Offices of Matthew J. Jowanna, our legal team can help you plan your estate and assist your loved ones through probate upon your passing to provide extra peace of mind. Contact us today to learn more about how our dedicated legal team will work tirelessly to help you.