Probate Attorney in Surprise, Arizona

Find the right Probate Attorney attorney in Surprise, AZ

In Surprise, Arizona, probate is the process through which a Court determines if a will is valid or not.

In the probate process, a Surprise, Arizona probate court has several 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 often name a person as the executor of the estate. If not, the court in Surprise, Arizona will name one. This is most often the adult individual who stands to inherit the most money or property from the will.

Because the executor is responsible for actually initiating probate proceedings and seeing them to completion, the person chosen for this role is often the one who stands to inherit the most from the will - giving them an incentive to put in the necessary time and effort.

Duties of the Executor in Surprise, Arizona

Executors of estates have a several distinct responsibilities. First, the executor must start the probate proceedings. Probate almost always needs to be finished before the property in an estate can be released according to the terms of the will.

The executor also has to give those with a direct interest in the will notice that the decedent has died, by filing an official death certificate.

Because people who stand to inherit from the testator may be scattered around the country, or even the world, contacting them is sometimes difficult. One of the responsibilities of the executor is to compile a list of everyone who is entitled to inherit from the decedent, so attempts to contact them can be made. They also have to account for all the testator's debts and assets.

Because the executor serves as the living symbol of the decedent's estate, they are solely responsible for proving the validity of the will. This is a lot of work, but because executors are usually chosen based on how much they stand to inherit from a will once its validity is confirmed, they have a good incentive to see the process to completion.

How Can A Surprise, Arizona Lawyer Help?

Because this process can be fairly complicated, it is not a bad idea to consult with a good probate lawyer in Surprise, Arizona, especially if you find yourself as the executor of an estate and don't know how to proceed.

Talk to a Wills, Trusts & Estates Law Attorney now!

Life in Surprise

Surprise is located in Maricopa County, Arizona. Its population is one of the fastest-growing in the state- it went from 30,000 in the year 2000 up to 90,000 by the year 2007. The city was founded in 1938 and was named after Surprise, Nebraska.

Surprise is a popular destination for those seeking residential opportunities, in particular retirement homes. In fact, much of the city's population growth can be attributed to Sun City Grand, which is a resort-like, age-restricted residential community. The community is a large contributor to Surprise's population and economy.

Warm weather and modern sports facilities make Surprise an ideal location for those who love sports. For example, the city maintains an outstanding Recreation Campus. The Campus houses the Surprise Tennis and Racket Complex (STRC), which has received several awards. STRC is often the site for important professional matches.

If you have a legal claim, lawyers in Surprise, Arizona will usually file the claim at the Surprise Municipal Court. The municipal court hears civil matters as well as criminal misdemeanor cases. Surprise lawyers can provide you with advice or representation on a variety of legal issues.

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