Probate Attorney in Pontiac, Michigan

Find the right Probate Attorney attorney in Pontiac, MI

In Pontiac, Michigan, probate is the process in which a court validates or voids a will.

As part of this procedure, the court in Pontiac, Michigan has several important responsibilities. Most vitally, 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 ensure that the property is distributed in an orderly manner, as close to the terms of the will (assuming it is valid) as possible.

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

Because the executor is responsible for actually initiating probate proceedings and seeing them to completion, the person chosen for this role is often the one who stands to inherit the most from the will - giving them an incentive to put in the necessary time and effort.

Duties of the Executor in Pontiac, Michigan

Executors of estates have a several distinct responsibilities. First, the executor must start the probate proceedings. Probate almost always needs to be finished before the property in an estate can be released according to the terms of the will.

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

If the decedent was even somewhat well-off financially, it's likely that they'll have significant amounts of both debts and assets. The executor is tasked with creating an accurate accounting of the debts and assets of the estate, so as much of the decedent's debts can be paid off as possible.

Furthermore, the executor is required to take the lead in proving the validity of the will, effectively acting as the living embodiment of the decedent's estate. The executor is usually the person who will inherit the most once the will goes through probate, so they have a good reason to put in the work to do this.

How Can A Pontiac, Michigan Lawyer Help?

Because of the complexities involved in probate, it would be smart to hire a good Pontiac, Michigan probate lawyer, especially if you are the executor of an estate and unsure how to proceed.

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

Life in Pontiac

Pontiac is located in Oakland County, Michigan. It is famous for being home to the General Motors manufacturing plants--especially for the Pontiac vehicle. In fact, the city now has a stadium named after the vehicle; the stadium is called the Pontiac Silverdome.

A fun site includes Woodward Avenue, an area filled with small shops and great restaurants, as well as hot-rod cars that drag race. Other popular sites include The Realm of Darkness haunted house, Erebus haunted house, and the Fallen Heroes Memorial.

Pontiac is also home to many attorneys who practice in various areas of law. These professionals focus on providing their clients with personalized, excellent legal services.

An interesting fact, and a reason for Pontiac being one of Michigan's most recognized cities, is that in 2010 the city underwent "The Rise of the Phoenix" initiative. Basically, businesses who opened offices in downtown Pontiac would be given free rent in exchange for multi-year leases, alongside one year free parking in local city lots. There was an application process and about 52 businesses were selected, which helped boost the Pontiac economy.

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