Accomplished Minnesota Probate Lawyer Advises Twin Cities Executors
Proficient South St. Paul law firm smooths estate settlement process
At Hoene & Worrell, I provide insightful legal counsel to estate executors throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. With 25 years of experience advising clients in numerous probate cases, I have gained an in-depth understanding of the issues faced by the personal representatives of Minnesota estates. Drawing on that background, my firm works to ease the often complicated settlement process by promptly and effectively addressing concerns. If you’ve been appointed as an estate executor for a family member, friend or another party, you can rely on me to provide you with clear and legally astute guidance.
Legal counsel advises clients on key probate administration tasks
Probate is the legal process of settling a deceased person’s debts and distributing their assets to their heirs. In Minnesota, estates that are valued at more than $75,000 — or in which the decedent was the sole owner of a real estate parcel — must pass through the probate process. As personal representative of the estate, you are responsible for handling this process by “probating” the deceased person’s will. If there is no will, you will be expected to distribute the property in accordance with the state’s intestate succession laws, which require assets to be given to the decedent’s closest family members. I can guide you through the intricacies of the probate process and, if there is no will, ensure that asset distribution is compliant with state law in order to prevent probate challenges.
Minnesota attorney guides executors through the distribution of assets
There are several steps in the probate administration process that executors are responsible for carrying out. They include the following:
- Finding and collecting the deceased person’s assets
- Transferring the assets from the deceased to the estate
- Valuing, managing and preserving the assets, and potentially liquidating assets to pay off debts the decedent owed
- Determining taxes that may be owed
Many executors have no previous experience with probate, which can be a confusing and complicated process. That is why I work to relieve the burden for my clients by providing strategic guidance for fairly and expeditiously completing each of the steps involved.
Dedicated legal counsel handles contested probate cases
Sometimes wills are disputed, which makes probate even more complex. Disputes may happen when someone claims that the will is fraudulent, that the testator was not competent when creating the document, that the will was not properly witnessed or that the will is invalid for another reason. Only people who are beneficiaries or likely heirs can challenge the will. If you are an executor facing a probate challenge, I can help you by reviewing the details of the dispute and advising you about how to best handle it, and represent the estate in court should it go to litigation.
Contact an experienced Minnesota attorney for help with your probate case
Hoene & Worrell in South St. Paul, Minnesota, has represented Twin Cities clients in probate cases and other estate matters since 1978. To schedule a free consultation, call my firm at 651-222-2838 or contact me online.
