Trust and Estate Administration
A loved one has passed away.
now what?
Administering an estate can be a complicated process. In fact, while estate administration can involve complying with strict deadlines and carrying out some complex administrative work, it can also involve personal liability for those appointed to oversee the process.
At Hardin Waldrip Law, PLLC, our estate lawyers have more than 40 years’ experience helping our clients successfully administer and settle estates and trusts in a timely manner. Skilled at representing both beneficiaries and fiduciaries, our attorneys have the knowledge, insight, and resources you can rely on to protect your interests and minimize your liabilities throughout the estate administration process. Our attorneys are also skilled at saving taxes with sound post death tax planning.
Built on a foundation of experience and extensive legal knowledge, the estate administration practice at Hardin Waldrip Law, PLLC is focused on favorably resolving the issues and processes that can be central to administering estates. Some of the specific estate administrative services our lawyers provide include (but are not limited to):
UNCONTESTED PROBATE AND ESTATE ADMINISTRATION
When an individual passes away, the Last Will & Testament becomes effective. With proper planning, the estate administration process can be simplified and more efficiently administered. The estate administration process includes collecting the decedent's assets, paying debts and liabilities, and distributing any remaining assets to the heirs and beneficiaries.
Is probate necessary? For many estates, the probate process will be needed to administer the estate. However, with proper planning the probate process may be avoided or simplified. Whether probate is necessary will depend on factors such as the size of the estate, the assets included in the estate, whether there is a will, and how property is titled.
Our probate attorneys can administer estate of various types and sizes. For personal representatives, our lawyers can assist them in successfully navigating the complexities of Colorado probate, such as helping them with probate deadlines, estate inventories, handling creditors, and distributing the assets of an estate. For beneficiaries, our lawyers can effectively defend their rights and entitlements.
TRUST ADMINISTRATION
For trust administration, the successor trustee is responsible for managing the trust assets in accordance with the trust provisions established by the decedent. The trustee will be responsible for paying any liabilities associated with the trust property and distributing the trust assets to the named beneficiaries in the manner directed by the trust agreement.
For trustees, our lawyers can provide guidance regarding the day-to-day maintenance of trusts while ensuring the terms of the trust are appropriately carried out. For beneficiaries, our attorneys can protect their interests and assist them if or when trustees fail to live up to their obligations. Hardin Waldrip Law, PLLC provides trust administration services to trustees and beneficiaries in Colorado and Texas.
TAX PLANNING SERVICES
Our attorneys provide tax planning services, including post-death tax planning and estate tax planning, and can ensure that all tax obligations are appropriately satisfied.
