Administration

Even under ideal circumstances, the death of a loved one is fraught with difficulties, both emotional and practical. The Estate Planning & Wealth Preservation team at McDowall Cotter can ease the burden of transition by helping you settle the decedent's estate efficiently and compassionately.

Whether your loved one left a will or a trust, you and your family will be faced with some kind of formal administration process. The administration of a will requires a process called “probate”; trusts are administered through “trust administration.” If a person dies without a will or a trust, the state (or states, if real property is owned in more than one state) determines the distribution of property and other assets in a process known as “intestate succession.”

The complexity of these processes depends largely on the size and complexity of the estate. In all cases, expert legal representation is highly advantageous.