Brandon Probate Lawyer

If you’re getting serious about estate planning, it’s important to understand how your passing will affect your family and friends – and a Brandon, FL probate lawyer can help. Read on to learn more about probate, and contact the professionals at Morton Law Firm LLC to get started.

What Is Probate?

Probate is the process through which your assets are distributed amongst your beneficiaries. Translated from legalese, it’s how your belongings are split up between your family and friends after your death.

We use the term “asset” to mean everything you own or have built up for yourself. This can range from collectibles to real estate, investments, and even debts. Aside from how your loved ones will remember you, your assets are your legacy, and it’s important to make sure they go to the right people.

What Steps Are Involved In Probate?

Unfortunately, probate is a lengthy and oftentimes frustrating process. Assuming you’ve created a will (which you should have, otherwise you should get in touch with a Brandon probate lawyer as soon as possible), your beneficiaries will have to be notified that you’ve died. Your will also needs to be sent to a probate court for verification.

After everyone is informed of your death, and the court has accepted your will as a legally-binding document, it’s time to get into the weeds. Your assets will need to be gathered and valued, which typically involves a third party. Once everything has been secured and ascribed a monetary value, your final debts, fees, and taxes will have to be paid off.

Once everything has been paid off, it’s finally time to distribute your assets. Seems simple enough on paper, right? There’s one major catch: At every step of probate, there’s an opportunity for debate. This can quickly turn into a grudge-match between your family members who think they’ve been snubbed in the will.

Fortunately, a big part of creating your will is choosing your executor. With the right choice, you can hope for a slightly easier probate process – even though you won’t personally be there to deal with it.

What Is An Executor?

A will is a list of assets and beneficiaries, as well as important instructions for what should be done with your belongings after your death. It’s important to name someone you can trust to handle everything a will entails, and we call that person an executor.

When you name an executor, you’re choosing someone to manage your estate after your death. It’s not a responsibility that should be taken lightly, so it’s important that you name someone you can really trust. If you fail to name an executor, the state will name one for you – and that’s not always the best outcome.

Get In Touch With Morton Law LLC Today

Probate can be a pain, and a will can be difficult to create without the right legal team on your side. At Morton Law LLC, we know how important it can be to plan your future. Get in touch with us today to see how a Brandon probate lawyer from our office can help.

Matthew D. Morton 20+ Years

Assets That Can Avoid Probate

Our Brandon, FL probate lawyer can help you understand what assets must be included in the process of probate and which assets may be able to avoid probate. Our attorney Matthew D. Morton has been helping clients with their estate plans for over 20 years. We will use our knowledge and experience to ensure that you are informed throughout the entire probate process.

We understand the importance of preserving your assets and ensuring a smooth transition of wealth to your loved ones. One effective strategy to avoid the probate process is by leveraging various asset planning techniques. To learn more about the probate process and how our probate lawyer can help you, contact the Morton Law Firm today.

Real Estate Trusts

Real estate is often a significant part of an individual’s estate. By transferring ownership of your property to a trust, such as a revocable living trust, you can ensure that it passes directly to your beneficiaries upon your passing without going through probate. Our experienced probate lawyer in Brandon can help you establish and manage a trust that aligns with your specific goals and preferences, providing peace of mind knowing that your real estate assets are protected and efficiently distributed.

Retirement Accounts

Assets held within retirement accounts, such as 401(k)s and IRAs, typically pass directly to the designated beneficiaries outside of probate. However, it’s crucial to ensure that your beneficiary designations are up to date and accurately reflect your wishes. Our experienced probate lawyer can review your retirement account beneficiary designations and recommend any necessary adjustments to ensure a seamless transfer of assets to your loved ones.

Life Insurance Policies

Proceeds from life insurance policies are generally not subject to probate and are paid directly to the named beneficiaries. By designating specific individuals or a trust as beneficiaries of your life insurance policies, you can bypass the probate process and provide financial security for your loved ones in the event of your passing. Our probate lawyer can assist you in reviewing your life insurance policies and beneficiary designations to ensure that they align with your overall estate planning objectives.

Jointly Owned Assets

Assets held jointly with rights of survivorship, such as bank accounts, real estate, and investment accounts, automatically pass to the surviving co-owner without having to pass through probate. This can be a simple and effective way to avoid probate for certain assets. However, it’s essential to understand the implications of joint ownership and ensure that it aligns with your estate planning goals. Our knowledgeable Florida probate lawyer can provide guidance on the advantages and considerations of joint ownership and help you make informed decisions regarding your assets.

Beneficiary Designations

Certain assets, such as bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and vehicles, allow you to designate beneficiaries to receive the assets upon your passing. By specifying beneficiaries on these accounts, you can bypass probate and ensure a direct transfer of assets to your chosen recipients. Understanding the eligibility for certain assets to bypass probate can be complicated, and our probate lawyers can help you make informed decisions regarding your estate plan.

Contact Our Probate Lawyer Today

From establishing trusts and reviewing beneficiary designations to leveraging joint ownership and life insurance policies, our experienced probate lawyers can help you navigate the complexities of estate planning and ensure that your assets are protected and efficiently distributed according to your wishes. Contact the Morton Law Firmtoday to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward securing your legacy for future generations.