Assisting Executors and Trustees in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area and throughout Missouri and Illinois
When a loved one dies, there are usually numerous issues that need a family’s attention in order to wrap up the affairs of the recently-deceased. In addition to drafting wills and other end-of-life documents, at Kilo Flynn our knowledgeable estate planning lawyers can assist the family in probate and trust administration.
Is a Lawyer Necessary?
Most often the answer is; “Yes.” Being named the Personal Representative of a will or a trustee of a trust is a tremendous responsibility. Often personal representatives and trustees are selected because of their reputation for good judgment, but they lack the technical legal knowledge needed to efficiently carry out their duties.
A skilled probate and trust attorney will be able to guide personal representatives and trustees through the administration process and resolve any issues that come up along the way. An attorney will also make sure that the estate administration complies with the law.
An attorney will help avoid mistakes that can result in unnecessary expenses and delay. For example, a mistake in conveying the title to a piece of real estate to a beneficiary can cause serious and expensive consequences that may not be discovered for years. In addition, an attorney will also be able to defend any lawsuits brought against the executor or trustee.
Steps to Probate a Will
There are many details that must be attended to in order to probate a will. After hiring an attorney, generally a personal representative will be required to:
- Apply for “Letters Testamentary” if there is a will or for “Letters of Administration” if no will.
- Publish notice to creditors. Claimants normally will have six months from date of publication to submit claims.
- Inventory and appraise assets.
- Administer the estate and sell property if funds are needed to pay creditors.
- Pay debts, claims, taxes, and expenses.
- Draft a proposed settlement statement showing assets and disbursements.
- Request approval from the court for distribution.
Contact a St. Louis Probate and Trust Administration Lawyer Today to Discuss Your Case
At Kilo Flynn, we give our clients the confidence that their loved one’s estate will be handled correctly and efficiently. We see that many clients are overwhelmed with the details that come with closing accounts and handling another person’s affairs. The attorneys at Kilo Flynn can ease these burdens by overseeing the probate and trust administration.
We work with clients throughout the Missouri and Illinois, including the City of St. Louis, and the surrounding Missouri counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln, Jefferson, Franklin and Crawford; and the Illinois counties of Madison, St. Clair and Monroe, to name a few. Call our office today at 314-647-8910 for a free consultation.