Wills, Trusts, Estates and Probate Attorneys in Decatur, Alabama
Estate planning and peace of mind
Rich, poor, young or old – you need to create an estate plan to protect your family and your future. Consider this: Who could you entrust with the care of your minor children if you are ever unable to take care of them yourself? How should your assets be disbursed among your heirs at the time of your death? Who could take care of you if you ever became disabled or incapacitated? An estate plan allows you to articulate your personal preferences when you are unable to voice those choices yourself. An estate plan is a way for you to plan for the contingency of death, disability or incapacity. An attorney at the Edwards, Belser & Smith can guide you through the process of creating an estate plan, generally by compiling a number of legal instruments including but not limited to:
- Wills
- Living wills
- Living trusts
- Durable powers of attorney
- Healthcare proxies
- Business succession plans
Estate administration and navigating the process of probate
If you have been appointed as the personal representative or executor of a will or estate, you should know that you are not legally obligated hire an attorney to represent you in the process of probate. Hiring an attorney is nonetheless a wise decision. An attorney can demystify the complex legal rules associated with estate administration, explain the fiduciary responsibilities that stem from accepting an appointment as a personal representative, and limit the number of errors that could lead to lawsuit and personal liability if beneficiaries decide to sue you for a perceived wrong. An attorney can assist you with all aspects of estate administration, including:
- Cataloging the estate’s assets
- Managing the probate of the estate
- Paying all taxable and credit-related obligations
- Overseeing the administration of the estate
- Distributing the remainder of the assets among the heirs
Get the advice you need and the advocacy you deserve
It is well worth your time to hire an attorney to guide you through the process of planning or administering an estate. Typically, Alabama allows creditors to submit claims against the estate for six months following a person’s passing. For this reason alone, even the simplest estate plan can take as long as eight to ten months to administer. The attorney you hire needs to keep an eye on the details to properly execute the decedent’s last wishes. Our attorneys stand ready to guide you through this process.
