Estates & Probate Lawyer in Carrollton, GA

Probate is a court proceeding by which decedents’ debts are settled and title to property is formally passed from the decedents to their beneficiaries and heirs. The probate process is initiated in the county of the decedents’ legal residence at death or maybe where they owned property.  If the decedent signed a will and named an executor, that executor will be responsible for completing the decedent’s affairs. If there is no will, someone must petition the probate court to be appointed as the administrator and perform the same duties as an executor.

The executor or administrator or executor is responsible for some of the following:

• Filing of a petition with the Probate Court
• Validating a will, if there is one, and resolving will contests
• Obtaining court approval of the named personal representative
• Collecting assets
• Resolving probate contest if it arises
• Paying estate debts or disputing debts necessary
• Selling of estate assets, if required
• Final distribution of assets to heirs
• Closing the estate