If you lose a relative and they did not leave a last will and testament, or their will was written at a time when they were of unsound mind, the only way for you and your family to gain legal rights to inherit the deceased person’s property is through the probate process.
It is often thought to be a very long series of legal proceedings, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be. There are things you can do to speed things up a bit, such as coming to an agreement with other potential heirs outside of the court. If you want to learn more about what you can do to quicken up the probate process, read on!
Proposing a Plan
If the deceased person had assets such as real estate and investments, you would have to file an application with the court to be appointed an executor of the estate. The executor’s responsibility is to manage all of the deceased person’s assets and cover any unpaid debts. It is also their duty to distribute the remaining assets to beneficiaries according to the will or according to the law if there is no will.
You will have to submit a proposed plan for the probate process once you are appointed as an executor. This plan will have to include a detailed list of all of the property owned by the deceased person at the time of death, their respective values, and a statement of how they will be distributed to beneficiaries.
The plan is an important part of the probate process because it lets the beneficiaries know when they can expect to receive their share of the inheritance. You do not have to prepare it on your own, though – you can, for example, visit the website probateadvance.com and find some professional help.
You can also submit a proposed plan as soon as you have been appointed an executor. The court will then call a meeting to discuss the plan with the beneficiaries who have a right to be present. This meeting is called the “probate hearing,” and it can put pressure on the executor to reach an agreement with other potential heirs.
Reaching a Joint Agreement With Other Potential Heirs
If there are no objections to the proposed plan, it will become legally binding upon all beneficiaries who have no right to contest it. You can use the plan as the basis for a joint agreement with other potential heirs, or you can draft a new one together. Your plan should include details of how the estate will be divided, how much each beneficiary will receive, and when they can expect to receive their share of the inheritance.
Keep in mind that if there is no will in place, there are certain laws that determine how the inheritance should be divided up. For example, if the deceased person passed away without leaving a spouse or children, their estate will automatically pass to their closest relatives according to the law of intestacy. If there are no relatives, then the estate will pass to charity.
Contacting a Probate Attorney
If you cannot agree on the details of the plan, you can ask the judge to appoint a probate attorney to act as an independent third party. The probate attorney will be responsible for supervising the process and monitoring the executor’s performance. This helps to ensure that the estate is distributed fairly and in accordance with the will.
Registering a Notice of Estate Plan
You should register a notice of estate plan in the court office where the deceased lived. This notice must be registered with the court within eight days of submitting your proposed plan with the executor’s affidavit. This notice will serve as proof that there was a valid plan in place. If the beneficiaries are not aware of the plan, they will be able to make an objection to it.
Applying for Probate
After all of the remaining assets have been distributed to the beneficiaries, the executor must apply for probate. This is a process whereby the court grants the executor the authority to administer the deceased person’s estate. The application form can only be filed after all of the assets have been distributed to the beneficiaries.
Registering the Grant of Probate
Once the court has granted you probate, you will have to register the grant with the land titles office. This office is responsible for registering any property that was owned by the deceased person at the time of death. You can register the grant and obtain the title documents if you wish to sell any of the properties or invest in them yourself.
Terminating Probate
At some point, you will need to apply to terminate probate. This is a formal application in which you will state that all property has been distributed to the appropriate beneficiaries and no debts are outstanding. Once this application has been approved by the courts, probate will be terminated, and your role as an executor will be over. However, you may still be responsible for any outstanding taxes or debts that need to be paid from the estate.
If you require assistance during this process, you should consult with a probate attorney. They can help you draft a suitable plan and make sure that everything goes smoothly throughout the probate process.
Final Note
If you have lost a loved one and you want to know how you can obtain their share in the inheritance, you should contact a probate attorney. As mentioned above, there are steps that you can take on your own to ensure that the probate process is quicker and smoother.
Nevertheless, an attorney will be able to offer you expert advice and help you deal with any problems that arise during this process. Hopefully, with their help, it will be conducted with no major difficulties.