In North Lauderdale, Florida, probate is the process through which a Court determines if a will is valid or not.

As part of the probate procedure, the court in North Lauderdale, Florida will determine the validity of the will, inventory the decedent's assets and debts, then, assuming everything is found to be in order, distribute the estate according to the will.

The executor of the estate is frequently named in the will. If not, the probate court in North Lauderdale, Florida will name will appoint a person to serve as executor. This is typically the person who stands to inherit the most under 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 inducement to move the process along as quickly as possible, so they can get their inheritance.

Duties of the Executor in North Lauderdale, Florida

The executor has various 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 additionally are required to provide notice to the people with a direct interest in the estate that the decedent has died, typically by filing a death certificate.

There may be many people who are entitled to take under a testator's will, with which the testator may have fallout out of touch years ago. This can make them challenging to find, but they need to be found, nonetheless. To that end, the executor is obliged to make a list of everyone who might be able to inherit, whether they're named in the will, or closely related to the testator. Additionally, they have to make known all of the decedent's major assets and debts.

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

How Can A North Lauderdale, Florida Lawyer Help?

Because of the difficulties involved in probate, it would be a knowledgeable idea to consult with and retain a North Lauderdale, Florida attorney who specializes in probate, especially if you are the executor of an estate.