Probate Attorney in Orange Beach, AL
When a person passes away, their assets must be disbursed according to their estate plan and Alabama probate law. The Bales Law Firm helps executors of Wills or beneficiaries of an estate through the probate process. Starting with identifying estate assets and ending with the distribution of assets and inheritances to the beneficiaries.
What Constitutes Probate in Alabama?
Probate is the process by which a deceased person’s assets and belongings, known as their estate, are passed on to their heirs and successors. In Baldwin County, Alabama, most matters related to wills, estates, conservatorships, and guardianships are handled by probate courts. Both the probate process and outcomes can look very different, depending on whether the decedent had a valid Will at the time of death or passed without a will or intestate.
The Early Stages of Probate
The probate process begins when the decedent passes away. A petition is filed with the proper court to have the probate opened. The next step is to identify the executor or personal representative of the decedent’s estate. If there is a Will, an executor/personal representative will likely be named in it. If there is not a Will, certain persons can petition the court to be appointed executor/personal representative or a probate judge will appoint one. Once the executor/personal representative is appointed, then the executor/personal representative will:
- Notify the heirs
- Publish notice for any creditors
- Take inventory of the estate (e.g. bank accounts, retirement accounts, stocks and bonds, real estate, personal effects)
- Secure all assets
How probate proceeds depends on whether there is a Will or not.
Administration of the Estate
Estate administration is the process of managing and distributing the assets and liabilities of a deceased person according to their will or the laws of intestacy. It involves identifying and collecting the assets, paying off debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining assets to the beneficiaries. The administration of the estate must begin with a petition to the probate court.
Probate With a Will
If the decedent died with a Will, the Will must be found, filed with the court, and authenticated before its terms are put into action. This process often involves a court hearing where parties named in the Will and parties not named but who would have inherited but for the Will are in attendance. During this hearing, an interested party may contest the Will.
If there are no challenges to the Will, the executor must first pay off all debts of the estate. Once creditors are paid, the executor distributes the remainder to the beneficiaries in accordance with the Will.
If the Will is challenged, then another hearing may be set. The challenger has the burden to prove the Will’s invalidity. Challenges are often based on allegations of undue influence, fraud, or misrepresentation. Challenges are also brought forward when there is believed to be another Will invalidating the Will offered to probate court.
If the court decides the Will is valid, the executor can pay debts, bills, and applicable taxes, and distribute assets. If the court decides the Will is invalid, it will apply the state’s intestacy laws. On the other hand, if the court determines the other Will is valid, it will allow the executor to apply the valid Will (as opposed to the invalid Will).
Probate Without a Will
If there is no Will, the decedent is said to have died intestate. This does not mean their assets will not be inherited, it just means their property will pass to their heirs through their state’s intestacy laws.Once the executor has located all the decedent’s assets and notified and paid the creditors, the probate judge will apply the state’s laws of intestacy and distribute the estate to the decedent’s heirs.
The End Stage of Probate
Once debt and bills are paid and the remaining assets are distributed, the executor will submit receipts and records of everything to the court. At that time, the executor will ask the court to close the estate and release the individual from the role of executor.
Challenging the Administration of the Estate
Alabama Probate law requires the executor/personal representative to administer the estate in a timely manner for the benefit of all beneficiaries. Should the executor/personal representative not perform their fiduciary duty required by Alabama Probate law and/or do not follow the intent of the will, their actions can be challenged and depending on the court’s decision, can be removed.
Do you need to probate a will, petition the court to become administrator of an estate, or have a challenge to an estate in Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, Foley, and Baldwin County?
Whether you need a probate lawyer depends on how well the estate plan was set up. Regardless, a probate lawyer offers important services that can help speed up the probate process. A probate lawyer can help with the:
- Collection of proceeds from life insurance policies
- Identification and securing of estate assets
- Appraisals for the decedent’s real property
- Payment of bills, debts, and applicable taxes
- Resolution of any income or estate tax issue
- Preparation and filing of all documents required by a probate court
- Management of the estate checking account
- Transfer of assets to beneficiaries
- Contest the WIll
- Challenge the assets in the estate
- Contest the distribution of the estate
- Challenge the actions of the executor/personal representative in performing their fiduciary duties as required by Alabama Probate law.
We are here to help you with your estate plan so that it survives any challenge during probate. If you are the executor or beneficiary of an estate, we can also guide you through the probate process. If you have questions, contact The Bales Law Firm either online or at 251-213-9343 to schedule a consultation with our estate planning lawyer today.