WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT WHEN I COME TO SEE ATTORNEY FITZGERALD AFTER A FAMILY MEMBER PASSES AWAY?
There are so many competing emotions, thoughts and responsibilities after a family member passes away. The family's immediate job is to make funeral arrangements and spend time with family. After the funeral there is time to focus on legal and financial affairs.
| Every person and every family is unique. The first step in the process of administering an estate is to share basic information about the deceased family member, the assets involved and the surviving family. This is true regardless of whether there are few assets or a large estate, and whether there is a Will passing through Probate or a Revocable Trust or other arrangements that will avoid probate. The initial meeting is an opportunity to understand the estate, clarify the issues that may be involved, and focus the family's energy upon the procedures and steps that will be required. This involves a series of steps: |
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1. Information. Before the initial meeting with Attorney Fitzgerald the family should pull together the following:
- copies of any Will or Revocable Trust documents
- addresses of immediate relatives and other people mentioned in the Will or Revocable Trust
- a list of the deceased's assets and accounts. This will include: insurance policies, retirement accounts, and other assets with a named beneficiary. It will also include any checks or funds that may arrive in the future
- a list of any bills, expenses, or liabilities that will need to be paid from the estate
It can take time to gather all of the necessary information and some items may not be available. You do not need to have everything to get started. At this point it is sufficient to gather the best information available. |
2. The Meeting. The initial meeting begins with the family's opportunity to share their questions and concerns regarding the estate. Attorney Fitzgerald will review the documents, assets and liabilities of the estate, provide answers to the family's questions and discuss the procedures and steps involved with the estate.
3. The Estate Overview. After the meeting, Attorney Fitzgerald reviews the issues, procedures and steps involved in the estate. He will then send a letter outlining steps involved with the administration of the estate and any additional information, documents or other material that may be necessary to move forward.
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