Many of my clients come to me with deep concerns about probate. They wish to either avoid probate having heard many a horror story or they now find themselves enmeshed in probate as the result of a loved one’s passing. But what they all have in common is the need to understand what probate is so that they can make informed decisions.
In response to this concern, I will be publishing a mini-series of short, easy to read blog posts for the non-lawyer on probate. For a more in-depth look at probate, please join me for my annual Legal Savvy Seminars offered at the Corvallis Senior Center through Parks and Rec. The first class will start November 3, 2016 at 12:15. To register or see more class details please go to:
What is Probate?
Probate is itself a legal process with a number of different and sometimes complex steps. However, a short-cut to understanding probate is to recognize that the goal of probate is to change title on assets from the name of the deceased into the names of the beneficiaries. In order to achieve this goal, a court provides authority to the personal representative (formally called the executor or executrix) to manage and distribute the deceased person’s property. This is where probate begins.
