Estate Administration

Estate Administration: Distributing Assets Among Heirs

• • What is involved in estate administration?
  • How long will the administration of an estate take?
  • What happens to a decedent’s estate if there is no will?

What is Estate Administration?

Estate Administration is the process by which an individual’s lifetime financial affairs are wound up, and their property and assets are distributed after they die. This process differs from state to state. The time it takes to administer the estate can vary based on the following factors:

• • Whether the legal documents of a decedent are in order;
  • The value and extent of the assets in the estate; and
  • The number of beneficiaries involved.

Collecting Information

After the funeral and grieving process of a family member who has died, what is the next step an individual should take in estate administration? The answer is collecting information. At Nathan Law PLLC, we collect information, particularly about the assets, to find out what property the decedent owned, and how it was classified (i.e., personal or real property, community or separate property, probate or non-probate property). Other things we keep in mind while collecting information include the following:

• • Finding out if decedent left a valid will or not;
  • Obtaining death certificates, typically from the funeral director; and
  • Notifying the Social Security Administration if the decedent was receiving benefits.

Factors to determine how long the process will take:

• • The size of the estate;
  • The number of heirs or beneficiaries; and
  • The complexity of the Will and estate

Requirements to Administer an Estate

Running our law firm with integrity and demonstrating transparency is what we strive to do. To administer an estate, we probate the decedent’s Will after we collect the decedent’s assets. Documents that will need to be filed in court include the following:

• • The death certificate;
  • The Last Will and Testament (if the decedent made one); and
  • An estimate of the estate value (if the decedent had no will)

Probating with or without a will can be a complex process. When administering an estate, you commit to family members, loved ones, and the court. If you need legal advice from a probate law firm in Texas, contact Nathan Law PLLC, a probate attorney law firm in Dallas, Texas. Contact us today at 214-915-8226 for your initial consultation!