In Live Oak, Florida, probate is the process through which a Court decides if a will is valid or not.

As part of the probate procedure, the court in Live Oak, Florida will decide the validity of the will, inventory the decedent's assets and debts, then, assuming everything is deemed to be in order, distribute the estate according to the will.

The executor of the estate is commonly named in the will. If not, the probate court in Live Oak, Florida will name will appoint a person to serve as executor. This is usually the person who stands to inherit the most under the will.

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

Duties of the Executor in Live Oak, Florida

There are quite a few things that an executor is accountable for. At the outset, they are obligated to file the probate action with the appropriate court. No progress, let alone any final disposition of the estate, can be made until this happens.

Furthermore, the executor has to make sure that the decedent's relatives and other people named in the will have notice of the testator's death, usually through the filing of a copy of the official death certificate.

The executor will also have to compile and make accessible a list of all of the decedent's debts and assets, as well as a list of those who stand to inherit from the decedent.

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

How Can A Live Oak, Florida Lawyer Help?

Because of the complexities inherent in the probate process, it is a good idea to hire an experienced Live Oak, Florida probate lawyer, particularly for the executors of estates.