Probate Avoidance Lawyers

Probate Avoidance

Probate is the legal process by which property (that is not jointly owned, in trust or with a beneficiary designation) owned by a person is transferred to that person’s heirs or beneficiaries upon his death. Many people wish to avoid probate for a number of reasons.  The most cited reasons are:

• Time: A full administration typically takes between 6 months and a year. 

• Money: The court costs and attorney fees involved in a probate proceeding can be considerable, with the estate and ultimately the heirs paying the additional costs. 

• Privacy: Probate proceedings and the Last Will and Testament of the decedent are public record.

It is a common misconception that a Last Will and Testament avoids probate.  Rather, in order to avoid probate, other estate planning options must be utilized like beneficiary designations, transfer on death affidavits on real estate, and/or a trust.

At The Perla Law Firm LLC, we help clients avoid probate.  For more information on probate avoidance, contact our office.