Planning for your estate is an important part of its administration. During your lifetime, it is something you should plan for. This can help your family after you have passed. The loved ones of deceased individuals can understand what their wishes would have been by reading their will.
A will can provide details on what a person would want for their estate when they are gone. They can claim who they want their assets to go to. These individuals will become beneficiaries of the estate. Beneficiaries and an executor will be named in a will. Many beneficiaries can be named while only one executor is usually named. The executor has responsibilities to accomplish before they administer the estate. Through this legal document, a will can allow others to follow the wishes of the deceased.
What is probate?
Probate can prove that the will is legal in a court. It can allow the court to distribute assets as they are described to be in the document due to a process that makes it legally binding. Before the deceased individual passes, they will have assigned someone as an executor to their estate. This person is in charge of making sure that the proper possessions are given to the right people. As an executor, they will have substantial responsibilities that require their cooperation.
When an individual dies, their executor should bring the will go to probate. They can file the will at the Surrogate Court where the deceased individual resided. Probate will allow the document to be a legal document. It can make it. The probate process proves the validity of legal documents regarding estate administration. Probate involves the validation of legal matters regarding a deceased person’s estate. When an individual makes a will, they need to be in a clear state of mind. It is important that this occurs to prove that they were creating their will of their own accord. They should not be influenced by any means such as bribery or have a family member coerce them. The individuals will need to have witnesses present to prove that they were in a clear state of mind. Upon completion of drafting the will, the individual can sign it and have it notarized.
The attorneys at JD Katz have years of experience compassionately guiding clients in Maryland through the estate planning and administration process. Our firm also has experience with matters of elder law, business law, tax law, and litigation. For a legal team that will put your needs first, contact JD Katz today.
