Estate Administration Lawyer Serving Central Pennsylvania
The legal impact of a family member’s passing can be challenging, especially given the emotional stress and other demands you face. Depending on your loved one’s assets and any specific estate plan in place, you may find yourself needing to deal with a Pennsylvania probate court or shouldering the responsibility for the administration of a trust.
Our attorneys can ease your burden as an executor, trustee or other party with estate administration responsibilities. We have a strong grasp of how to complete necessary processes efficiently and implement strategies to hold costs down. Equally important, your decision to contact us will be met with care and concern for your overall well-being.
Navigating the Probate Process
The probate process is the legal procedure of administering a person’s estate, regardless of whether they had a will in place. It involves strict procedural requirements, which may include filing the will, inventorying assets, paying final taxes, and resolving creditor claims. Missteps in the process can result in increased court costs, avoidable tax problems, disputes among beneficiaries, and delayed distributions.
Working with an estate settlement attorney in South Central PA can help you better understand the probate process and reduce the risk of common estate administration mistakes.
At Jacobson, Julius & Harshberger (JJH), we provide compassionate and personalized support to families in Harrisburg, York, and throughout Central Pennsylvania, helping them manage the estate administration process with clarity and confidence.
Protecting Yourself as an Estate Administrator
In addition to the legal and administrative responsibilities that come with being an estate administrator, you are responsible for acting in the estate’s best interests and properly handling assets, debts, taxes, and distributions. Managing these diverse responsibilities can be overwhelming, especially when you’re still navigating grief as a result of the loss.
At every phase of the process, you’ll work directly with an estate administration attorney who will explain each step in clear language and help you understand your options for moving forward.
Managing Commercial Assets in Probate
In cases where the deceased owned a commercial enterprise or partnership, probate can involve challenges that extend well beyond the distribution of personal assets. The estate may require a business valuation, coordination with surviving partners, and review of outstanding obligations. One of your responsibilities as an estate administrator may also be to determine whether the business should be liquidated, sold, continued under new ownership, or transferred to qualified beneficiaries.
Our cross-disciplinary experience means our estate administration attorneys in Harrisburg can help you evaluate your options and address partnership and ownership issues.
Experienced Estate Administration, Plus Proven Ability to Handle Related Challenges
Having a versatile, dedicated lawyer on your side can be critical for avoiding missteps that could drag out the process and even dramatically increase costs. Our firm’s work across a range of other practice areas, including real estate, business law, guardianship matters and the drafting of wills and trusts, can be essential as we help you through a situation involving:
- A family member who died without a will (intestate)
- The many procedural requirements associated with getting assets through the courts, distributing those assets and identifying and resolving creditor claims against the estate
- Trust administration that satisfies all legal requirements and contains costs
- Related needs to complete a real estate sale, legally liquidate other assets or pursue litigation involving a business or other assets
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve answered some frequently asked questions about estate administration below.
What is the difference between an executor and an administrator?
The difference between an executor and an administrator is how they are appointed. While an executor is named in a will, an estate administrator is appointed by the probate court, typically when there is no will or the executor cannot serve.
Can an administrator be held personally liable for mistakes?
Yes, an administrator may face personal liability if estate debts, creditor claims, income taxes, inheritance taxes, or distributions are not handled correctly. As a result, professional expertise can be valuable when navigating the process.
What should I do first if I’m responsible for administering an estate?
Your first step should be to locate and organize all estate planning documents, as well as to obtain copies of the death certificate. Contact an attorney as soon as possible for professional guidance.
Schedule a Consultation With a Skilled Estate Lawyer: 717-909-5858
You can turn to us for legal services intended to protect you and other family members’ financial interests, eliminate headaches and enable you to stay focused on other important concerns. Probate and estate administration are legal areas that are deadline intensive and potentially confusing. We will keep you fully informed of all obligations and steps along the way.
