Raleigh Estate Administration Lawyers

What Happens After a Loved One Dies?

It is very difficult to lose a loved one. If you have been named the executor or administrator of your loved one’s estate, you have a lot of new duties and responsibilities, including adhering to important court deadlines. You're not alone. Oak City Estate Planning can guide you through the process.

Estate administration can be complicated, even when the deceased had a will. But the executor, administrator and beneficiaries don’t have to go through it alone. We take pride in being a resource for our clients after the loss of a loved one. We provide one-on-one attention and personal service designed to help our clients through this challenging time.

Contact our firm online or call (919) 975-5359 for a consultation. Serving Wake and Harnett counties. Contact Oak City Estate Planning to get started.

Estate Administration Basics

Estate administration in North Carolina involves several essential steps to ensure the proper handling of a deceased person's estate. The process typically begins with probate, which is the legal procedure of proving a will’s validity in court. If there is no will, the estate is distributed according to state intestacy laws. A Raleigh estate administration lawyer can guide executors or personal representatives through this complex process.

Once appointed, the executor has various responsibilities, including identifying and gathering the deceased's assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining assets to beneficiaries. Executors must adhere to North Carolina’s legal requirements, such as notifying creditors and filing appropriate tax returns. The estate administration attorneys at Oak City Estate Planning are invaluable in navigating these duties, ensuring compliance with all legal obligations, and minimizing potential disputes among heirs.

It’s crucial to have an experienced Raleigh estate administration lawyer to provide clear, practical advice tailored to each estate’s unique circumstances. By doing so, executors can fulfill their fiduciary duties effectively, honoring the decedent’s wishes while protecting the interests of the beneficiaries. Trustworthy legal counsel can make estate administration a smoother, more manageable experience for all involved.

Speak to a Raleigh Estate Administration Attorney

An estate may have to go through ancillary probate if the deceased person had property located outside of North Carolina. The personal representative must hire an attorney in the state where the property is located, and this process can take months. Our Raleigh team can guide you through the process

We can:

• Help you find the original will and/or other important estate planning paperwork.
• Give you instructions for how to close out the deceased person’s bank accounts.
• Provide you with advice about how to handle real property and/or other real estate such as vehicles, jewelry or guns.
• Get you the resources you need to store, sell or distribute the deceased person’s tangible personal property. We encourage you to plans for this during the estate planning process.
• Advise you on whether you need to hire an independent third-party administrator
• Determine what type(s) of administration is/are needed for handling estate administration

At Oak City Estate Planning, our skilled estate administration lawyers understand the drama that can unfold during the administration of an estate. Clients throughout Raleigh can turn to our law firm for help at every stage of the process.

We have the skill and knowledge to help you with tasks such as:

• Filing a claim for a forgotten beneficiary
• Determining whether a person was incompetent when he or she signed a will
• Removing a personal representative or executor or defending against allegations of removal
• Defending against allegations that an executor has violated his or her fiduciary duty

If you have lost a loved one and are being accused of estate fraud or mishandling estate funds, our firm can help you during these accusations as well. No matter what your circumstances might involve, we’re here for you. Our firm is familiar with these types of legal tangles and will work hard to resolve them in your favor.

Speak with a qualified estate administration attorney in Raleigh at Oak City Estate Planning. Call (919) 975-5359 or contact us online.