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The
Law Offices of David A. Looney Co., LPA deal
with a variety of probate and estate planning
matters. Our attorneys represent clients
throughout northeast Ohio, helping them to
develop effective estate planning strategies
that protect their interests and goals - now, in
the future, and after their death. Clients who
come to the Law Offices of David A. Looney
benefit from the firm's effectiveness, expertise
and experience.
Probate is a court-supervised process for
identifying and gathering a decedent's assets,
paying estate taxes, claims, and expenses, and
distributing assets to beneficiaries. In ideal
circumstances, the deceased has defined their
wishes via comprehensive estate planning tools
such as Wills and Trusts - making probate a
relatively smooth and efficient process. Through
careful preparation, tax implications can also
been addressed so that intended beneficiaries
receive the largest benefit possible from your
estate.
When a decedent owns assets at death, it is
sometimes necessary to undertake a probate
administration of the estate. This is true
whether or not the decedent died with or without
a will. When there is a will, it is said that
the person died "testate." If there is
no will, the person is said to have died "intestate."
In either case, it is beneficial to seek the
assistance of an experienced attorney to oversee
the administration of the estate. |
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The services of an attorney are usually required
because many legal and procedural issues arise,
even in the most basic estate administration.
The attorney actually represents the estate's
personal representative - the person appointed
by the court to be in charge of the
administration of the estate. The personal
representative, or fiduciary in an estate that
involves a will is called an executor. If the
decedant did not leave a will, the fiduciary is
called an administrator. The fiduciary has the
responsibility of performing all acts necessary
in the administration of the estate, which
includes identifying and appraising the estate
assets, filing an estate inventory, paying the
claims filed against the estate, distributing
the assets, preparing the estate tax return if
necessary, and filing a final accounting. The
attorney and the estate representative are paid
for their services out of the estate assets.
Those fees are set by Ohio Law and must be
approved by the Court.
There are many laws and procedures which relate
to the probating of estates, and the Law Offices
of David A. Looney believes that the fiduciary
should be able to totally rely on the attorney
to see that all acts are performed in accordance
with the law.
Probate and estate planning is a complex field
and the attorneys at the Law Offices of David A.
Looney can help to ensure that the probate
process is efficient and in compliance with our
clients' personal and professional goals. Please
contact us today at 330-785-3337, or save time
with our online Contact
Form.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of David A.
Looney are Experienced, Aggressive, Equipped and
Prepared - to fight for you and solve your legal
problems. |
