Probate Attorney in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Find the right Probate Attorney attorney in Kalamazoo, MI

In Kalamazoo, Michigan, probate is the procedure in which a court validates or voids a will.

As part of this procedure, the court in Kalamazoo, Michigan has many important responsibilities. Most especially, it has to decide if the will is valid, and consider evidence that it is not (if any such evidence exists). The probate court then has to guarantee that the property is distributed in an orderly manner, as close to the terms of the will (assuming it is valid) as possible.

Normally, the executor of the estate is named in the will. However, if nobody is named as an executor, the probate court in Kalamazoo, Michigan will assign an administrator to serve the role as the executor. This is normally the closest adult relative of the decedent, or the person who stands to inherit the most.

The executor is the person accountable 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 Kalamazoo, Michigan

The executor has various duties concerning the will. First of all, they have to actually initiate the probate hearings with the court, and this procedure has to be finalized before the will takes effect.

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

Executors are also obligated to make accessible an accounting of the testator's debts and assets, so their affairs can be wound up, along with a list of everybody who is named in the will, or otherwise stands to inherit.

Because the executor serves as the living representation of the decedent's estate, they are solely accountable for proving the validity of the will. This is a lot of work, but because executors are normally 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 finalization.

How Can A Kalamazoo, Michigan Lawyer Help?

Because this can be (though isn't always) a fairly intricate process, it's a good idea to get a seasoned probate lawyer in Kalamazoo, Michigan, especially if you find yourself being the executor of an estate, and aren't sure how to proceed.

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

Life in Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo is located in Kalamazoo County. Specifically it is located in the southwestern part of Michigan. It is home to approximately 326,589 people.

Some popular sites include the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo Valley Museum, Hickory Corners, Gilmore Car Museum, the Kalamazoo Air Zoo, the New Vic Theatre, Barn Theatre, the Gibson Guitar Corporation, and Wings Stadium.

Some of the top employers are the health care system and school district. Kalamazoo is also home to three local breweries and that employ many residents. With small businesses around, naturally the city is also home to attorneys there to provide legal support. Kalamazoo is home to many attorneys who work in law offices and firms that practice in many areas of law. Therefore, residents can remain rest assured, because any and every legal need of theirs can easily be taken care of.

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