top of page
Image by Kelly Sikkema

WILLS, PROBATE & ESTATE PLANNING

Helping Clients Distribute Their Wealth on Their Terms

No matter the size of your estate, it is important to take the time to assess your situation and draft a comprehensive estate plan that includes a last will and testament, strategies to minimize taxes, a durable power of attorney, and guardianship for any minor children. Sterling Hidalgo Law Group will develop a custom estate plan that covers your unique needs and ensures you and your loved ones are prepared for major life events and emergencies.

Do I Really Need a Will for My Estate?

Without a will, the assets in your estate will go through probate. In probate, a judge will decide who receives your assets. Consequently, your loved ones may lose the property and funds that you intend for them to inherit. If you are worried that creditors will come after your estate when you die and leave your loved ones without the funds they need to survive, then you need to consult with our legal professionals at Sterling Hidalgo law Group.

 

When you visit our law firm to get help drafting your will, we will assist you with the following:

Strategies for setting aside money to cover federal estate taxes

Minimizing the cost of transferring your assets to your designated beneficiaries

Planning for the possibility of physical or mental incapacitation

Naming an executor of your estate

Gifting money to a charity you support

Describing your wishes regarding your burial and funeral

How Does Probate Work?

Probate is the legal process of recognizing and administering an estate after a person's death. Many people believe that court is reserved solely for disputes – and that is where misunderstanding regarding probate can begin. It is imperative to understand that not every probate involves a dispute or contest. Sometimes the probate process concludes without any disagreement. No matter what the disagreement is, probate determines how assets will pass from a deceased person to their heirs.

 

There are 8 general steps included in the probate process:

  1. Filing an application for probate in the county where the decedent lived

  2. Posting notice of probate at the courthouse

  3. Validating the will before a judge

  4. Completing an inventory of all assets

  5. Identifying beneficiaries of the estate

  6. Notifying the decedent’s creditors

  7. Resolving legal disputes

  8. Distributing the assets

 

Depending on how the decedent's last will and testament is administered, the probate process will be either sped up or slowed down.

bottom of page