Schedule a Consultation Now

Contact Us

Common Estate Planning Questions

May 14, 2024 | Estate Planning

Common Estate Planning Questions

 

 

What is Probate?

Probate is the process through which an executor or administrator gathers the assets of a deceased person, pays their taxes and their debts, and finally transfers any remaining assets to the decedent’s beneficiaries.

 

Simple Probate in New Jersey

In New Jersey, if the decedent left a simple will, or even no will, the survivors can take advantage of simplified probate. The process, which is quicker and less expensive than regular probate, is available to:

  • A surviving spouse, or
  • A surviving domestic partner
  • If there was no will, and
  • If the total value of the decedent’s assets does not exceed $50,000.

It is also available to other family members if there is no surviving spouse, no domestic partner, no will, and if the decedent’s assets do not exceed $20,000.

The survivor(s) would simply file an affidavit with their local probate court to claim the decedent’s property.

 

What Does Probate Entail?

For estates that require probate, the following steps would occur:

• The person named as executor in the will would petition the court for formal appointment as executor of the estate.
• The named executor would supply the court with the will and a certified copy of the death certificate.
• If no will exists, or the named executor isn’t available, the probate court will appoint an administrator.
• The court will issue a document to the executor or administrator which gives that person both the duty and the authority to do the following:
• collect and inventory the deceased person’s assets, and secure them
• seek professional appraisal of the assets, if necessary
• pay debts and taxes, and
• distribute the remaining property as directed by the will or the law.

The executor or administrator must give notice of the proceedings to all heirs and beneficiaries. This must be done within the first sixty days after the will is admitted to probate.

Stay tuned for next month’s blog: How to Avoid Probate
Have questions or concerns about an estates or trust matter?  Contact an experienced Sussan Greenwald & Wesler attorney for assistance.
609-409-3500



Contact us now

For a Private Consultation

Latest Blog Posts

Can the Simultaneous Death Act Be Overridden?

In inheritance law, simultaneous death is a situation in which two people die within a short time and at least one of them would have inherited all or part of the other’s estate. While this is a relatively uncommon event, it poses several legal problems - the largest...

Duties and Responsibilities of a New Jersey Executor

Being named the executor of a will can be both an honor and a burden. For most people, acting as the executor means a loved one has died and you are carrying out their final wishes. It’s the final task you can do for that person. It’s a very special duty. However, the...

Your IEP Meeting: What to Expect

Your IEP Meeting: What to Expect For experienced parents of children with special needs, an IEP meeting can still feel like a battleground with the school staff on one side and the parents on the other. First-timers may feel especially blindsided by the way these...

Categories

Year Published