When someone you love dies, your first priority is to make the necessary arrangements, and navigate your way through the grief process. At some point, though, you have to find a way to disburse the material and financial assets. If your loved one died without a Will, that process can become a bit tricky.
Because estate laws vary from state to state, you’ll want to find a local attorney to help you sort through the situation successfully. Grissom Law, LLC specializes in estate planning and works with clients in Georgia to develop plans that ensure assets are distributed appropriately and correctly following a death. When no Will exists, state laws govern the distribution of assets.
In most cases, a decedent’s outstanding bills will be settled, and then the assets will be distributed to the heirs, typically a surviving spouse and children, if any. More distant relatives only inherit when there is no surviving spouse or children.
Probate courts appoint a personal representative to receive, examine, and manage any legal claims against the estate. The personal representative is responsible for ensuring that creditors are paid and oversees the distribution of any remaining assets. In the event that there is no Will, the personal representative identifies heirs to the estate and disperses funds accordingly. Because the personal representative must distribute to the heirs, friends or other non-familial loved ones cannot inherit, regardless of the wishes of the deceased. In contract, if a Will exists, the personal representative is responsible for distributing the assets to the beneficiaries identified in the Will.
The best way to make sure your assets go where you want them to go is to consult with an estate planning attorney, like the experienced lawyer at Grissom Law, LLC if you’re not certain of how to best dispose of your estate after death or to help you determine who will inherit following the death of a loved one who did not leave a written will. Grissom Law, LLC. will help you avoid the time-consuming constraints of dealing with probate court. They’ll also make sure final wishes are adhered to and honored.
Disclaimer
This Blog/Web Site is made available for educational purposes only. In addition, it is available to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide legal advice. By using this blog site you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and Grissom Law, LLC.