Probate
Losing a loved one is never easy, and the legal process that follows can often feel overwhelming. At Evans & Davis, our probate attorneys combine legal expertise with genuine compassion to help families navigate the distribution of an estate with clarity and care.
Step 1: Schedule Your Initial Meeting
Start by contacting our firm. Our team members will then work with you to coordinate a meeting date and time most convenient for all involved parties.
Step 2: Tell Us about Your Loved One
You will be provided with a simple and confidential Probate Intake Form to assist you with gathering the necessary information to assist your attorney in evaluating the assets and liabilities of your family member you have lost.
Step 3: Meet With Your Attorney
During your initial consultation with an attorney, you will learn about court requirements, the probate process, and the duties that you may have during this time. During this meeting, you will be able to openly discuss your concerns and outline specific items related to your family in safe and accepting environment. Your initial consultation normally lasts 1.5 hours and culminates in your attorney providing you with a proposed course of action with the associated fees to assist you.
Step 4: Attend Court Hearings
Throughout the probate process, your attorney will advise you on required filings and court hearings. During this difficult time, we want to alleviate as much of the burden and stress on you and your family as possible.
Step 5: Settlement and Distribution of Assets
At the conclusion of the probate, we will assist you in distributing property and assets to the beneficiaries approved by the court in an efficient and timely manner. Our goal throughout this process is to stand beside you and advise and protect your family during this transitional period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Do We Serve?
We assist clients and families during the difficult and timely process of distributing one’s estate following the death of a loved one.
How Do We Help?
Whether the estate is simple or complex, we provide steady guidance every step of the way so families can focus on what matters most.
What Probate Services Do We Provide?
Probate services include:
- Gathering and organizing information on the decedent’s assets and estate
- Filing all required paperwork to initiate and complete the probate process
- Representing clients at necessary court hearings
- Preparing and filing beneficiary designation forms for non-probate assets
- Reviewing and evaluating the decedent’s debts and liabilities
Client Testimonials
How your assets are structured determines whether they will go through the probate process or transfer directly to your beneficiaries. This distinction of probate vs. non-probate assets plays a key role in how your affairs will be handled after your death.
Navigating the loss of a loved one is difficult enough without the added stress of a complex legal process. Unfortunately, probate is notoriously expensive, often consuming a significant portion of an estate’s value before any assets reach the beneficiaries. Between court fees, attorney rates, and administrative costs, the financial “haircut” your estate takes can be substantial. Use our calculator below to estimate what probate might cost for your estate based on its current value.
When planning one’s estate, avoiding probate is typically a desirable goal. At Evans & Davis, our specialized estate planning attorneys understand how to help you avoid the probate process entirely using trust-based plans and mechanisms, which allow us to place your assets outside the control of the courts.