Estate Administration

Brooklyn, one of the five boroughs of New York City is home to 880,727 households, of which the largest percentage is made up of married couples who live together; other types of households include those with children under the age of 18, women who are householders who do not have a present husband, and individuals not living with their families. The largest age group in the borough’s population are people ages 25-44 with a median age of 33. Those under the age of 18 make up the next largest group. Elderly people make up 11.5%. Regardless of whether you are older, once you are 18, you may need to handle matters of probate and estate administration. The loss of a loved one can bring with it not only grief, but a range of administrative tasks, making it helpful to retain legal counsel with a full understanding of the estate administration process. In this judicial procedure, a decedent’s assets are first managed and then distributed. If you are concerned with handling your loved one’s estate after he or she passes away, you should consult experienced Brooklyn estate administration attorney Jules Haas.

Probate can be time-consuming; the amount of time administration takes depends on the complexity of the estate and other factors. Additionally, there may be lots of emotions involved, as well as, in some cases, serious controversy and acrimony. Typically, estate administration attorneys help a decedent’s loved ones or other interested parties with the following tasks: file a petition in the appropriate probate court; determine the heirs and other parties who must be given notice of probate and give them notice; petition the court to appoint an administrator or executor for the estate; inventory the decedent’s assets and get them appraised as needed; pay off debts to the decedent’s creditors and sometimes sell estate assets to do so; pay estate taxes; and distribute assets to the rightful heirs.

In some situations, assets are partially or fully held in a trust. When they are fully held in a trust, estate administration may not be necessary. However, if they are only partially held or there is no trust, or the trust is not valid and well-drafted, the case may become exponentially more complex. With those possibilities in mind, it is wise to retain an estate administration lawyer, like Mr. Haas, who understands trusts and trust litigation, and can apply those laws as they intersect with probate. Often a successor trustee needs to administer distribution of a decedent’s assets when the decedent was the original trustee.

There are a number of situations that can make estate administration particularly intense or difficult. Circumstances that present a particular challenge include a decedent’s incomplete or ambiguous will; a personal representative who doesn’t fulfill his or her legal duties; wills and trust contests; a decedent’s ownership of property and assets outside the state or abroad; and a mass of creditors’ claims. In some cases, decedents make their wills earlier on in their lives, and by the time it comes to file a probate petition, the will is out-of-date. For instance, if a decedent chose a fiduciary who was once reliable and doesn’t update the will after the fiduciary starts to demonstrate poor judgment or bad motives, this can create a tricky situation for heirs and beneficiaries. It is crucial to call upon an estate administration attorney who also understands how to handle New York Surrogate’s Court litigation.

Mr. Haas is a trustworthy estate administration attorney who has handled probate and estate planning matters for 40 years. He represents individuals, families, estate administrators, heirs, and other parties interested in estate proceedings. He is dedicated to providing personal and attentive service to his clients in all matters of probate, estates, trusts, Surrogate’s court cases, guardianship, and other related litigation. Contact Mr. Haas a call via our online form or call him at (212) 355-2575 to schedule a free consultation.