For many families grieving after the loss of a loved one, the probate process can be one of the most nebulous and challenging parts of managing the deceased’s assets. A lack of understanding can lead to an extended probate, leaving the assets you’re owed tied up for much longer than necessary. That’s why most courts and attorneys will suggest hiring a lawyer like the experienced professionals at the Crow Estate Planning & Probate law firm to guide you through the process.
Our team’s focus encompasses probate legal services and all aspects surrounding estate planning for adults of every age. We offer years of experience in the Tennessee and Kentucky court systems to each of our clients and do our best to ensure the deceased’s wishes are honored as quickly as possible.
When someone dies and leaves behind assets and an estate in their name, their property must go through a court-appointed process known as probate. In probate, a judge validates the deceased person’s will and appoints an executor. If there is no will, the Court would appoint an administrator. The Court then empowers the personal representative to identify assets, pay off debts, and settle the affairs of the estate. This process can take half a year or more to complete. At the end of the probate process, the assets are then distributed according to will or the heirs if no will.
Note that probate is usually only necessary when the estate or assets in question are solely in the deceased person’s name. Even if some of their assets have to go through probate, some things may be excluded, such as:
The average probate case can take between six to nine months. Much of that time is dedicated to getting the deceased’s affairs in order and carrying out payments and filings. Before the judge can distribute assets and dismiss the case, they will have to:
While there is no legal requirement to have an attorney during probate, it is highly recommended. Probate cases often involve a significant amount of paperwork and administration services that many people do not want to deal with. Furthermore, complicated cases can go on for well over a year, and a seasoned probate attorney can keep track of the process and ensure you’re doing everything you can to keep it moving forward.
The time following a loved one’s death can already be stressful and overwhelming, and Crow Estate Planning & Probate’s lawyers want to do everything we can to ease your burden. Our law firm’s probate legal services prepare us to assist our clients in:
Following the death of someone close to you, you want to focus on your memories of them, and that’s a little easier when their assets are fully distributed. Crow Estate Planning & Probate attorneys are here to help you get that peace of mind as soon as possible and avoid the complexities and expenses of a drawn-out probate. Our probate lawyers are proud to offer free consultations to help you get a handle on your situation. Let us be your advocates during every minute of probate — schedule a call or appointment today.
We are very thankful for Mr. Crow and his team as they handled our estate planning, taking care of all our needs with ease. (Estate, Wills, POA’s, LLC’s, etc.) He came highly recommended, and we quickly learned why. Mr. Crow and staff were knowledgeable, professional, informative, and understanding of our situation. Highly recommend!
Mr Crow and his staff are amazing! Especially the person assigned to my account, so a special thank you to Callie! Callie answered all of my questions and set expectations during a very confusing time in my life. Mr Crow and his team worked diligently with my specific situation and were very results driven. I would recommend Crow Estate Planning and Probate to anyone looking for an estate or probate attorney.
Today my wife and I completed (at Crow Estate Planning and Probate) our Will, Living Will, Power of Attorney for Finance and Medical. As a Tennessee CPA for over 20 years (now retired), I’d like to leave this review so that others may benefit. Our experience rating with with Crow Estate Planning and Probate is EXCELLENT. Our legal team was Kyle Shannon, Callie and Julia. This team was competent, courteous, and professional. They made a potentially complex experience “easy” despite multiple minor trusts involved. The charge for professional services rendered was very reasonable. My wife (Denise) and I would like to thank Kyle and his team (Callie and Julia) for a great experience that exceeded our expectations. I will return for legal needs and I will refer family and others to Kyle, Callie and Julia.
I’m very grateful to Mr. Shannon and Callie for the great job they did taking care of my muniment of title. Everyone in Mr. Shannon’s office was exceedingly kind and helpful.
They are caring, very helpful and not too expensive. I would recommend them to anyone that wants to plan for their future death and their children.
Crow Estate Planning was caring, professional and took great care of our family. John personally prepared my mother’s estate and completed her final wishes. Their staff was always friendly and eager to assist. Our family strongly recommends John and Crow Estate Planning
Mr. Crow and his staff were very knowledgeable, prompt and pleasant to work with in the estate planning process. Very satisfied clients and highly recommend!
Working with Kyle Shannon and Brittney Stewart to setup our Living Trust was nothing short than amazing! Very informative, very responsive, and made the whole process easy to complete.
It was an absolute pleasure to work with Kyle establishing my Estate planning needs. Kyle was very thorough and knowledgeable. Kyle’s understanding and professionalism made for a simple and smooth process. Highly recommended!
Be far the best estate planning firm in Clarksville.