After the death of a loved one, you might be left with the emotional task of administering the deceased’s will. If they left no such document, the District of Columbia laws provide guidance for how to administer the estate.
If you have lost someone that you care about, you might have to do one more favor in their honor by ensuring that their assets are distributed according to their wishes. A Washington DC probate lawyer might be able to help with this process during this emotional period of mourning.
Title 20 of the Code of the District of Columbia provides the legal instructions for what to do if someone is the keeper or finder of a last will and testament. Per §20-304, the first step for administering an estate is to file a petition for probate.
The probate petition may need to contain the following information, if it is available:
The petition might also need to provide the original will, but for further communications with the court, a copy might suffice. A skilled Washington DC probate attorney may be available to draft a petition for probate on behalf of a client.
Generally, a person will be designated to be the executor of the estate within the provisions of a last will and testament. If there is no designee, the court may appoint one. Some executors and administrators are court-supervised, but this is not always the case.
A Washington DC court may have the power to limit the duties or powers of an executor or administrator. An experienced probate lawyer in the District of Columbia might be able to provide some guidance to personal representatives of an estate.
As distraught as you might feel after losing a good friend or family member, you may need to help them by making sure that their assets are distributed. Local counsel might be able to answer you pressing questions about how to probate an estate.
A Washington DC probate lawyer can be a strong ally during the administration of an estate. Call today to discuss the apportionment of a loved one’s assets.
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