Planning for what will happen to your property after your death is an important step in making the process as easy and stress-free for your family members as possible. At Powers & Worshtil, P.C., our probate lawyers are dedicated to helping clients navigate estate planning confidently and adequately prepare for the future. 

Contact our probate lawyers in Anne Arundel County, MD, today to schedule your initial consultation. 

What Is Probate?

Probate is the legal process of authenticating, recognizing, and fulfilling a will. This process is necessary in most cases to ensure that the will’s contents are valid and that the estate executor fulfills the will according to the decedent’s wishes.

Steps in the Probate Process

The estate executor is responsible for initiating the probate process. If a will does not list an executor, the court can appoint one — typically a close family member of the decedent. 

The executor will then follow these steps within the probate process:

1. File a petition with the court to begin probate. 
2. Tell all creditors, beneficiaries, and heirs that the estate is in probate. 
3. Inventory the decedent’s assets, including bank accounts, real estate, investments, and personal effects. 
4. Pay outstanding debts to creditors using the assets in the estate. 
5. Distribute remaining assets according to the will. 
6. Submit receipts and records to the court to close the estate. 

If your estate executor doesn’t have much legal experience, this process may feel intimidating or overwhelming. However, our probate lawyers in Anne Arundel County, MD, are here to help. You can count on our team to walk your executor through the probate process and ensure that they complete every step to close the estate. 

Does Your Family Have to Go Through Probate?

Probate can be an overwhelming process for anyone. Your family members will need to deal with the legal process of closing the estate while grieving your death and completing a range of other necessary tasks. 

If you would like your family to avoid probate altogether, you can consider creating a revocable living trust. This trust can transfer your assets to beneficiaries directly upon your death, bypassing probate. 

Our probate lawyers in Anne Arundel County would be happy to help you set up a revocable living trust that avoids probate.

How Can an Anne Arundel County Probate Lawyer Assist You?

Whether you are planning for after your death or you have been appointed as executor for another person’s estate, having a probate lawyer on your side can be highly beneficial.

If you are in the process of getting your estate in order, our attorneys can assist with a range of tasks to prepare for after your death, such as:

• Estate planning
• Asset protection
• Guardianship
• Trusts
• Probate
• And more

Meanwhile, if you have been appointed executor, we can help you navigate the probate process.

Contact Our Anne Arundel County Probate Attorneys Today

If you need assistance with probate, we can help. Contact Powers & Worshtil, P.C. attorney team today at 301-627-1000 to schedule your initial consultation.