In Pleasant Grove, Alabama, probate is the process through which a Court determines if a will is valid or not.

In the probate process, a Pleasant Grove, Alabama probate court has many duties, including ruling on a will's validity, making an inventory of the estate's assets, and making note of all the decedent's debts. Once the will is determined to be valid, the court will distribute the property according to its terms.

Wills normally name the person who is to serve as executor of the estate. If no executor is named, the Pleasant Grove, Alabama court will appoint an executor. This is normally the person who stands to gain the most if the will is found to be valid.

The executor is the person who initiates probate proceedings. The person who stands to inherit the most from the will is normally appointed the executor, because they will have the most inducement to help the process go as quickly as possible, so they can get their inheritance.

Duties of the Executor in Pleasant Grove, Alabama

The executor has many duties concerning the will. First, they have to really initiate the probate proceedings, which must be finished before the will is effectuated.

They further are required to provide notice to the people with a direct interest in the estate that the decedent has died, normally by filing a death certificate.

There may be several people who are entitled to take under a testator's will, with which the testator may have fallout out of touch years ago. This can make them hard to find, but they need to be found, nonetheless. To that end, the executor is obligated to make a list of everyone who might be able to inherit, whether they're named in the will, or closely related to the testator. Additionally, they have to make known all of the decedent's major assets and debts.

Finally, executors have to actually put forth the effort to show that a will is valid. As the sole legal representative of the estate, this is their job, and is required for them to inherit, giving them an incentive.

How Can A Pleasant Grove, Alabama Lawyer Help?

Because of the intricacies involved in probate, it would be a brilliant idea to consult with and retain a Pleasant Grove, Alabama attorney who specializes in probate, especially if you are the executor of an estate.