Probate & Estate Administration

Probate Attorney in Jacksonville, FL

Probate is the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased person’s assets. Estate administration refers to the overall process of managing a deceased person's assets and carrying out their wishes as set forth in their will or trust.

The purpose of probate is to ensure that the deceased person's debts are paid, and their remaining assets are distributed to their heirs or beneficiaries according to the terms of their will or, if they did not have a will, according to state laws of intestacy.

The probate process typically involves the following steps:

1. Filing the deceased person's will with the probate court and opening an estate.
2. Identifying and inventorying the deceased person's assets.
3. Appraising the value of the assets.
4. Paying the deceased person's debts and taxes.
5. Distributing the remaining assets to the heirs or beneficiaries according to the terms of the will or state laws of intestacy.

Estate administration may also involve other tasks, such as closing the deceased person's accounts, transferring ownership of assets, and handling the distribution of any assets that are not subject to probate, such as assets held in a trust or assets that pass directly to a named beneficiary (such as a life insurance policy).

An estate administrator is responsible for overseeing the probate process and handling the day-to-day tasks of estate administration. This may be the executor or personal representative named in the will, or it may be a professional administrator appointed by the court.

At Three Oaks Law, we take the initiative to guide you step by step in the probate process. This can be a difficult time and we are compassionate in guiding you to closure. If you are in need of a probate matter, call our office at 904-397-4444 for a consultation.