PROBATE OF ESTATES

Probate is a court-supervised process to transfer legal title of property from an estate of a decedent (the person who has died) to his or her proper beneficiaries as directed in a will or in accordance with the law if no will exists. Because of court supervision over the entire process, heirs and beneficiaries can be assured of a full, fair valuation and distribution of the estate. Probate is necessary whenever a deceased person leaves titled assets in their name alone.
              
Probate involves a good deal of paperwork that must be filed in a timely manner. It is a rather formalistic procedure requiring:

• preparation and filing of numerous legal documents
• provision of notices
• hearings in court
• appraisal of the assets of the estate
• inventory of the assets
• completion of final income tax returns
• gift and estate tax returns
• accounting of funds
• final transfer of all assets to beneficiaries
• termination of probate proceeding
• discharge of the executor or administrator by the probate court

Because of the complexity of these procedures, it is generally a good idea to acquire the assistance of an attorney. The law firm of Ossinsky & Cathcart, P.A. is involved in various aspects of estate and trust administration and will assist the personal representative, family and beneficiaries with compassion and sensitivity. Our lawyers can help you deal with those professionals like accountants to avoid the many possible tax traps and other problems that could arise and help achieve the results you want. We regularly handle Florida Probate cases and work with out-of-state personal representatives, beneficiaries and relatives to settle Florida estates.