Probate lawyers Harrisburg

The term “probate” describes the process of formally opening an estate of a deceased person where they owned property in their own name, and that property does not pass by operation of law, like an insurance policy that has a named beneficiary. An executor or administrator must file a petition for grant of letters with the court, and thereafter use the short certificate to gather the assets of the estate, notify the beneficiaries of the existence of the estate, and publish notice for creditors who may have a claim against the estate, as well as prepare the necessary tax returns. An experienced probate attorney can help the deceased’s next of kin navigate the detailed and time-specific process.