Probate Attorney in Greeley, Colorado
In Greeley, Colorado, probate is the process through which a Court determines if a will is valid or not.
As part of this process, the Greeley, Colorado probate court will determine the validity of the will, inventory the decedent's assets and debts, and then, finally, distribute the estate according to the will, assuming it is found to be valid.
Wills often name a person as the executor of the estate. If not, the court in Greeley, Colorado will name one. This is most often the adult individual who stands to inherit the most money or property from the will.
The executor is the person responsible for initiating the probate proceedings. The person who would inherit the most from the will is appointed, because they have the greatest incentive to move the process along as quickly as possible, so they can get their inheritance.
Duties of the Executor in Greeley, Colorado
The executor has several duties with respect to the will. First, it is his or her job to actually initiate probate proceedings, which often must be completed before the will is given effect.
They also are required to provide notice to the people with a direct interest in the estate that the decedent has died, usually by filing a death certificate.
Executors are also required to make available an accounting of the testator's debts and assets, so their affairs can be wound up, along with a list of everyone who is named in the will, or otherwise stands to inherit.
Because the executor serves as the living embodiment 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.
Find a Greeley Lawyer that Specializes in Your Area of Need:
How Can A Greeley, Colorado Lawyer Help?
Because this process can be fairly complicated, it is not a bad idea to consult with a good probate lawyer in Greeley, Colorado, especially if you find yourself as the executor of an estate and don't know how to proceed.
