Are You Prepared For The Time And Cost Of Probate?
It is for good reason that people say that your 40s and 50s are the most stressful time in your life. You are part of the “sandwich generation,” caring simultaneously for your children and your parents; both generations sometimes seem like they don’t need your help, only to catch you off guard with their helplessness? What else does your mother not remember if she doesn’t remember the color of your eyes? How can your son not know how to fill out an online form when he can so quickly figure out how to use so many smartphone apps that you find baffling? To make matters worse, you must handle all of these responsibilities from within a body that can no longer function on four hours of sleep per night and a diet of Publix leaf cookies and Sam’s Choice cola like it did when you were young. Against this backdrop, when you visited your recently widowed mother, you were probably so busy trying to make sure that she stayed healthy and socially connected that you probably did not talk to her much about her task as personal representative of your father’s estate, especially since you did not want to seem like you were greedy for an inheritance. Therefore, many personal representatives of deceased family members’ estates go into the process with misconceptions, or else with no idea what to expect, so they are in for some unpleasant surprises. If you are facing the task of taking a family member’s estate to probate court and have just realized how challenging it is, contact a Tampa probate lawyer.
Probate Is More of a Slog Than Most People Realize
According to a report recently published on the USA Today website, most Americans are clueless about probate. They are unpleasantly surprised to find out that the average probate case takes 20 months, rather than just a few weeks. They are also dismayed to learn that the costs of probate usually eat up between three and seven percent of the value of the estate.
Rising to the Task of Representing a Deceased Family Member’s Estate
If you or any of your other family members want to inherit your deceased relative’s property, you cannot avoid probate, whether or not the decedent left a will. If you have been procrastinating the task because you are intimidated by probate, it is not too late; there is no statute of limitations for initiating probate. If the decedent’s will lists you as the personal representative, then no one can perform the role but you, unless that person provides compelling evidence to the court as to why you are unable to fulfill the function. You always have the right to hire a probate lawyer to represent you in your task as personal representative, even in uncomplicated probate cases.
Contact David Toback About Overcoming Probate Phobia
A Central Florida probate lawyer can help you settle the estate of a deceased family member. Contact David Toback in Tampa, Florida to set up a consultation.
Source:
usatoday.com/story/money/2024/07/30/inheritance-probate-process-explained/74592143007/
