Cleburne Probate Attorney

Experienced, Compassionate Legal Guidance When Your Family Needs It Most

Legal matters can often feel like a burden for the parties involved. Understanding the requirements that will need to be met and the procedures that must be followed can be difficult even at the best of times. However, following the death of a close relative or other loved one, probate and related legal matters may seem like an incredibly difficult obstacle to overcome. A family needs time, space, and energy to focus on their loss, and the last thing they usually want to worry about is dealing with time-consuming and emotionally draining legal matters. However, addressing these issues properly can be crucial for ensuring that a person's last wishes will be followed correctly.

As you work to address the issues related to your loved one's death, Cain & Kiel Law is here to help. Our attorneys are highly experienced in the areas of estate planning and estate administration. Just as importantly, our legal team understands the importance of both family and community, and we work to help make our friends' and neighbors' lives easier during what is unquestionably a difficult time. You need a knowledgeable and skilled legal guide to help your family make sense of the probate process, and that is what we are here to do. Our goal is to ease your burdens and make sure you will be able to resolve any issues that may arise as you address your loved one's final affairs.

We Will Guide You Through the Entire Probate Process

The process of managing a deceased person's estate is known as probate or estate administration. The executor of the estate will file the person's will in probate court. They will then notify all beneficiaries and creditors, take an inventory of the estate's assets, and pay any required taxes. After addressing claims against the estate and ensuring that all financial affairs are in order, the executor will distribute the decedent's assets to the beneficiaries named in the will, making sure to follow all instructions provided.

Probate is unavoidable in most cases. It is necessary to settle the affairs of any estate, ensuring that those who are entitled to receive property do so while following the wishes of the decedent as outlined in valid estate planning documents. However, without the help of an experienced probate lawyer, the process of administering an estate can be expensive, time-consuming, and emotionally difficult. Our attorneys can provide legal help and representation from the earliest days following a person's death until his or her estate is fully wrapped up. Our services include:

• Obtaining copies of a death certificate to present to the probate court
• Identifying wills, trusts, and other relevant estate planning documents
• If necessary, identifying and contacting the executor named in a will or any successor trustees who will be responsible for administering trusts
• Notifying creditors, such as credit card companies, of the person's death and providing them with the opportunity to make claims against the estate
• Locating beneficiaries named in a will or trust and providing notification to any other heirs who may have a right to inherit assets from the decedent
• Assisting with the inventory of the decedent's assets, including performing appraisals or identifying any issues that may affect the ability to transfer ownership of property to beneficiaries
• Ensuring compliance with probate court rules
• Responding to any will contests by expected heirs and resolving disputes through probate litigation

Few people who are unfamiliar with the probate process can successfully navigate through these and other matters without encountering some roadblocks along the way. With decades of combined experience between us, our attorneys can help make probating your loved one's estate less expensive and less demanding of your and your family's time and emotions.

Contact Our Johnson County Probate Lawyers for Help During This Sensitive Time

Our firm is committed to making the process of working with a lawyer as positive as possible, even in difficult circumstances. To speak with one of our attorneys, contact our office at 817-645-1717. We represent clients in probate matters in Cleburne, Parker County, Bosque County, Johnson County, Stephenville, Weatherford, Hillsboro, Fort Worth, Granbury, Hill County, Tarrant County, and Hood County.