Wills, Estates and Trusts
- Basic or Complex
- Health Care Proxies
- Living Wills
- Durable Power of Attorney
- Probate
Although some people think that probate is something that must be avoided, the fact of the matter is that in New York State it is not normally a complicated matter in strictly legal terms, and the process of filing legal papers is often only a small part of the services your lawyer provides. The value of those services to the family's peace of mind is hard to estimate as most people find the emotional burden of dealing with the affairs of deceased loved one to be more than they can bear.
While a wake and funeral occur within a few days, tying up the various loose ends that occur when someone passes away can take weeks or months, regardless of whether or not probate is involved. In some cases, it can even take years to fully square away all of the affairs that need tending to. Many who attempt to go through this process unaided find it to be a constant and painful reminder of their loss and as a result often put off doing what needs to be done. It may not matter much in the rare situation where this one person who is both the sole heir and the sole administrator of the estate but if there is more than one heir or other interested individuals involved that delay ultimately affects them as well. Even in the best of circumstances this can create tension among family members.
Part of your lawyer's job here is to deal with all the various aspects in an efficient and caring way to help prevent more emotional turmoil and that will spare unnecessary delay.