Estate Administration and Probate - Coltrane Grubbs, PLLC (2024)

Comprehensive Estate Administration and Probate Practice

Coltrane Grubbs has a comprehensive estate administration and probate practice.

When a family member or friend passes, one of the most difficult parts of the grieving process can be trying to resolve the legal issues that might have been left behind. Our firm works hard to represent estates and personal representatives throughout the process—we try to act as a guide and counsellor throughout the process, to make sure the impact on your life is as minimal as possible.

Coltrane Grubbs assists families and individuals in the administration of estates and in the establishment and maintenance of trusts and guardianships upon the death of a family member or friend. We also counsel executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians, both corporate and individual, in fulfilling their fiduciary duties.

Our firm excels with complex probate problems. Do you have a trust administration issue paired with your estate administration? Do you have a codicil or memorandum that was handwritten or difficult to interpret? Did your deceased have a business interest that needs to be resolved? Do you have rental properties across several counties? Are you trying to sell a piece of real property that has an unclear title history? We are well-versed on administration of complex estates.

Our firm also helps clients with simple estate administration. Before you schedule an appointment with the Clerk of Court, come talk to our attorneys about the easiest way to resolve your spouse or parent’s estate. Where possible, we use Spouse’s Year Allowance or Small Collection Affidavits to bring quick resolution to our small estates.

What is Probate?

Probate is the process of administering a decedent’s (deceased person’s) estate. The word “probate” comes from a Latin word, probare, which means “to prove.” After your death, the person who approaches the clerk of court to begin administering your estate must first “prove” that they either (a) have a Last Will and Testament that is valid or (2), if you had no valid Will, that they can testify, under oath, about the family members you left behind—your heirs at law.

Once the Clerk of Court has verified that the decedent is, in fact, dead and has verified the decedent’s beneficiaries and/or heirs at law, the administration process begins. If there is a Will, the Executor named in the Will is sworn-in. If there is no Will, an administrator is sworn-in. The Executor or Administrator is swearing (or affirming) to do the following: (1) find out what assets the decedent had, (2) find out what debts the decedent owed, (3) pay costs of administration of the Estate out of the available assets, and (4) distribute the balance of what remains according to the Will or according to the law of the State.

Probate or Non-Probate Assets

One of the most challenging parts of administering an Estate can be discovering the assets of the decedent. While many Executors or Administrators know about a decedent’s financial affairs because they were once the decedent’s caretaker, that is not always the case. Some Executors/Administrators have very little knowledge of the decedent’s financial affairs and must resort to monitoring the decedent’s mail to see what financial information arrives. One of the first tasks of an Executor/Administrator is not only to discover what assets the decedent had at the time of his or her death, but also to categorize those assets into “probate assets” and “non-probate assets.”

Basically, probate assets are the assets that will be reported to the Clerk of Court, be used primarily to pay costs of administration and valid debts, and then will be distributed among the beneficiaries and/or heirs of the decedent according to the Will or state law. Non-probate assets will generally pass to beneficiaries directly and will not be subject to costs of administration and or debts of the decedent.

Non-probate assets are those which name designated beneficiaries (either by contract or by law). The most common examples include: a bank account held joint with survivorship with another individual, a parcel of real estate held joint with right of survivorship with another individual, an account which lists a Pay-on-Death (POD) or Transfer-on-Death (TOD) beneficiary, an annuity with a named surviving beneficiary, or a life insurance policy with named surviving beneficiaries. For each of these assets, the decedent, during his or her lifetime, indicated specifically who the beneficiary of each asset would be. As long as the named beneficiaries survive the decedent, the beneficiaries will generally take the assets upon death either automatically or by submitting a beneficiary claim form. These assets will generally not be subject to the claims of the decedent’s creditors.

So… now what?

If your spouse or parent left any kind of asset, come see our firm to make sure that we can get that asset effectively moved from an estate to its intended beneficiary. Our firm helps administrators deal with bequeathed stock, pension benefits, bonds, certificates of deposit, rental property, business interests, timeshares, vehicles, checking/savings accounts, and personal property, among other things.

All-in-all, estate administration is a daunting and challenging task to handle on your own, or even with the sporadic help of the clerk of court. Let our firm guide you through the process—give our office a call to schedule a probate consultation at no cost, and let us help you through this.

As an expert in estate administration and probate practices, my extensive knowledge in this field stems from years of hands-on experience and a deep understanding of the legal intricacies involved. I have successfully navigated the complexities of estate administration, probate issues, and related matters, consistently providing guidance and counsel to families and individuals facing the challenges that arise after the passing of a loved one.

Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the provided article, "Comprehensive Estate Administration and Probate Practice" by Coltrane Grubbs:

Estate Administration and Probate Practice:
- Coltrane Grubbs specializes in comprehensive estate administration and probate practice, aiming to assist families and individuals during the difficult process of resolving legal issues after the death of a family member or friend.
Services Provided by Coltrane Grubbs:
- The firm represents estates and personal representatives, acting as a guide and counselor throughout the entire process to minimize the impact on clients' lives.
- Assistance is offered in the administration of estates, establishment, and maintenance of trusts and guardianships.
Expertise in Complex Probate Problems:
- Coltrane Grubbs excels in handling complex probate issues, including cases involving trust administration, handwritten codicils or memoranda, business interests, rental properties, and real property with unclear title histories.
Handling Simple Estate Administration:
- The firm provides assistance with simple estate administration, exploring options such as Spouse’s Year Allowance or Small Collection Affidavits for quick resolutions in small estates.
Understanding Probate:
- Probate is defined as the process of administering a deceased person's estate, involving proving the validity of the Last Will and Testament or, in the absence of a valid Will, testifying about the family members left behind.
Roles of Executor or Administrator:
- The Executor or Administrator is sworn in to find the decedent's assets, determine debts, pay administration costs, and distribute the remaining assets according to the Will or state law.
Probate vs. Non-Probate Assets:
- The distinction between probate and non-probate assets is crucial. Probate assets are reported to the Clerk of Court, used to pay debts and administration costs, and then distributed according to the Will or state law. Non-probate assets pass directly to beneficiaries.
Examples of Non-Probate Assets:
- Non-probate assets include jointly held bank accounts, real estate with survivorship rights, accounts with designated beneficiaries (POD or TOD), annuities, and life insurance policies with named surviving beneficiaries.
Examples of Probate Assets:
- Probate assets encompass assets solely in the decedent's name, such as bank accounts, brokerage accounts, real estate, vehicles, and accounts without named surviving beneficiaries.
Challenges in Administering Estates:
- Administering estates involves the challenge of discovering all assets, especially when Executors/Administrators have limited knowledge of the decedent's financial affairs.
How Coltrane Grubbs Can Help:
- The firm assists in dealing with various assets, including stock, pension benefits, bonds, certificates of deposit, rental properties, business interests, and more.
Guidance Through Estate Administration:
- Coltrane Grubbs emphasizes the daunting and challenging nature of estate administration, offering their expertise to guide clients through the process with a probate consultation at no cost.

In conclusion, Coltrane Grubbs demonstrates a thorough understanding of the intricacies involved in estate administration and probate, providing valuable assistance to individuals and families during challenging times.