Who Should Help You With Probate

Understand Who You Need on Your Probate Team

Once you are ready to start the probate process, the next question is who you should reach out to for help.

It is possible to do this yourself under the rules, and the probate courts have resources for people who represent themselves. However, if the rules and procedures are not followed carefully, the process can be delayed and you could end up spending more time and aggravation than you want.

A Probate Attorney

If you choose to get help with a probate estate, the first person you should line up is an experienced estate and probate attorney. They will be able to advise you about the type of probate proceeding most appropriate under the circumstances, helping ensure you choose the simplest path possible.

They will also identify any documents you need to gather (for example, a certified death certificate and the original will, if available), and prepare the forms needed for filing in the court. They will also take care of any notices required to other heirs, and communicate with the court and you throughout the process until you are appointed a Personal Representative.

An Accountant

Again, this is not required, but it can be enormously helpful. Income and estate tax deadlines will come faster than the ultimate probate deadlines, and it can be a lot to sort through the deceased person's affairs, accurately report the taxes, and take full advantage of any deductions available so you can preserve the assets of the estate.

A good probate attorney will also likely know accountants who have experience with this process, if you do not already have one of your own. Whether you use someone referred by your attorney or not, it is important that the lawyer and accountant be able to collaborate and work as a team to get you the best outcome possible.

Other Professional Services

Depending on what is in the estate, there may be other professional services you choose to retain.

If there is a business involved, for example, you may need to retain a valuation consultant to establish the value of the business at the time of death. The same is true for other assets that may not have an obvious value, such as art or other collectibles.

If there is real estate that needs to be sold out of the probate estate, a real estate professional is useful not only to take care of the sale itself, but to advise you on the ideal time within the probate process to market and sell it.

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Meet Our Estate Planning and Probate Lawyers

Emily Smith-Lee is the owner and founder of slnlaw. She is a 1996 graduate of Boston College Law School. She was previously a partner at the Boston office of a large international firm, where she worked for thirteen years before starting the firm that became slnlaw in 2009. She has been recognized as Massachusetts Superlawyer each year since 2013, and in 2018 earned recognition as one of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly's Lawyers of the Year.

Jenna Ordway: Jenna is a 2013 graduate of Quinnipiac Law School, and also earned an LLM in Taxation from Boston University in 2015. She has been affiliated with slnlaw since 2011, first as a law clerk and then as an attorney. Jenna has been recognized since 2019 as a "Rising Star" by Massachusetts Superlawyers. Jenna wrote a book on estate planning: The Road to Peace of Mind: What You Need to Know About Estate Planning. Jenna has helped many individuals and families with planning to protect their legacies and loved ones, and planning for the future and succession of their businesses.

Sharleen Tinnin: Sharleen is a 2010 graduate of Northeastern University School of Law, and earned her LLM in estate planning from Western New England Scool of Law in 2016. She has been with slnlaw since 2023. Prior to joining slnlaw, she worked with King, Tilden, McEttrick & Brink, P.C. on complex civil litigation matters. She previously worked for the United States Department of Justice, and received an "Excellence in Justice" award in 2017. Sharleen has helped many clients with planning for their legacies and their future, and navigating the probate process in Massachusetts after the death of a loved one.

How We Can Help

If you have questions or need assistance with probate in Massachusetts, don't hesitate to reach out. Our dedicated team is here to provide you with expert guidance and support throughout the probate process. You can use the button below to schedule a free information call, or simply give us a call at 781-784-2322.

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