While attending one of our seminars recently, a client mentioned that a loved one had passed and that she needed help navigating the probate process. Probate can be time-consuming, costly, and emotionally overwhelming for families, so it made sense that she would not want to move forward without a compassionate and skilled advocate in her corner. We told her we would be happy to step in right now and help if she needed it.

There was just one problem: She had already contacted another attorney. This was not because our Leigh Hilton PLLC team could not help. Quite the contrary—we live to help people in these situations. Truth be told, she preferred to work with us, too!

However, she did not realize probate representation is a service we also provide our clients.

Yes, Leigh Hilton Can and Wants to Help You with Your Probate Needs

When a loved one passes away and they do not have a living trust, their assets are almost always subject to probate. This is true even if you have a Will in place. In the most simplified terms, probate is a complex but often necessary legal process in which a court validates your Will and helps determine rightful heirs (the people who get your stuff). The court also ensures assets are inventoried and appraised, debts have been paid, and assets are ultimately distributed.

If you have a legal and carefully crafted Will, the court’s supervision—though still complex and time-consuming—is easier to navigate in many respects. If you do not have a Will, things can get pretty overwhelming.

Most of us have heard at least one or two stories about the difficulties of navigating probate. It is like a complex puzzle with a lot of pieces that must be expertly managed to ensure everything fits exactly where it should. The experience is only made more complicated by the fact that the executor may be a loved one experiencing grief along with new responsibilities. 

The good news is that your friends here at Leigh Hilton, PLLC, have helped many families like yours manage that process. 

Here are a few reasons why you need help from a skilled probate attorney:

1. Probate can tie up finances — In many situations, the assets held in an estate can be frozen until an executor is appointed, which can take months. Meanwhile, family members may have to pay expenses related to the estate or the assets (funeral bills, property maintenance, taxes, insurance, etc.). Once the executor is appointed, it could be months or even years before the assets are distributed.
2. Probate interferes with family business — If you want to manage or sell a decedent’s business or take action with any other asset (real estate, bank accounts, investment accounts, etc.), you will likely not be able to do so until the probate process has been opened and the executor has been appointed. Even after that, you still may need approval from a probate judge.

Simply stated, the Texas probate process can be overwhelming without the right help in your corner. We have helped many families access their inheritance as quickly as possible. Let us make a complex process easier for you and your loved ones. 

Call Leigh Hilton PLLC Today!!

Having a competent probate attorney in your corner will help you and your family navigate the often overwhelming waters of protecting everything you own and everyone you love. That is our job, and we think we do it better than anyone else. Call Leigh Hilton PLLC so that we can help ensure you and your family are taken care of in the best way possible. 

Leigh Hilton PLLC wants to be your first call every time for any estate planning need. We look forward to serving you.