Probate Attorney in Kent, Washington
In Kent, Washington "probate" refers to the process a court uses to decide whether or not a will is valid, thereby deciding if it should be given effect.
During probate, the court in Kent, Washington will determine the validity of the will, identify and inventory the decedent's assets, account for the decedent's debts and back taxes, and distribute the decedent's property, among other things.
Wills usually name the person who is to serve as executor of the estate. If no executor is named, the Kent, Washington court will appoint an executor. This is usually the person who stands to gain the most if the will is found to be valid.
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 Kent, Washington
The executor has many duties concerning the will. First of all, they have to actually initiate the probate proceedings with the court, and this procedure has to be completed before the will takes effect.
Executors must also inform anyone with an interest in the will of the death of the decedent. People with an interest in the outcome of probate are those who are named in the will, or anyone who would likely inherit if the will is invalidated (close relatives, for the most part).
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.
As the representative of the estate, the executor has to take charge of the probate process, filing the necessary court papers, and, if necessary, hiring an attorney for assistance. If the estate is large, and the executor stands to inherit a great deal of money once this process is complete, they'll probably find it to be worth the time and expense.
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How Can A Kent, Washington Lawyer Help?
Because of the complexities involved in probate, it would be smart to hire a good Kent, Washington probate lawyer, especially if you are the executor of an estate and unsure how to proceed.
There are 42 Wills, Trusts and Estates cases posted in Kent
Cases Posted to LegalMatch listed by ZIP Code:Probate Attorneys in the Largest WA Cities
Life in Kent
Kent is located in King County, Washington. It is a surrounding suburb of Seattle. Per the 2010 census, Kent is home to 92,411 people.Top employers include REI, Oberto Sausage, Boeing, Coho Distributing, Sysco, Alaska Airlines and Starbucks Coffee. Other employers include small law offices and boutique law firms that employ many competent attorneys and support staff. Such entities easily tend to the legal needs of residents.
The city is well-recognized as the popular host for such events as the Cantebury Faire, Kent Cornucopia Days, Kent Farmers Market, ShoWare Center, and Kent Saturday Market.
Famous residents include Earl Anthony, Ernie Conwell, Jeff Jaeger, Brenda Raganot, Cam Weaver, and Kelly Bachand.
