Probate
Most personal representatives (also known as executors or administrators) have never probated a Will. Many are surprised to learn the decedent’s Will named them as the responsible party. Steven Patterson, Attorney at Law provides indispensable service for personal representatives who have no prior experience in the probate court on matters that include:
- Filing the Will with the Missouri probate court
- Developing the best strategy for fairly and expeditiously settling the estate
- Finding and assembling assets
- Pay creditors and claimants
- Collecting amounts owed the estate
- Opening and closing bank accounts
- Transferring assets from the deceased to the estate
- Paying current and delinquent taxes as well as estate taxes
- Valuing, managing, preserving and liquidating the estate
- Locating beneficiaries
- Hiring experts, when appropriate
Personal Representatives can easily make mistakes due to inexperience, stress, and hasty decisions. This can be costly, as they can be held personally liable for beneficiaries’ losses. We guide executors through every step of the probate process, with reliable, detailed advice, so you can settle the testator’s estate as efficiently, quickly and easily as possible.
CAPABLE MANAGEMENT OF PROBATE DISPUTES
Even in apparently straightforward estate cases, there are sometimes disputes between disappointed beneficiaries and the personal representative. When representing personal representatives, we strive for the utmost professionalism in negotiations and in the courtroom. Whether the issue is a Will challenge or an accusation of mismanagement of estate assets, we advocate vigorously for the testator’s estate and the personal representative.
