Long Island Elder Law & Estate Planning

Smithtown probate lawyers at Mark S. Eghrari & Associates, PLLC  are here to help you if your loved one has passed away. Coping with the death of a loved one is always difficult and it is unfortunate that during this difficult time, you are going to have to handle many technical and logistical issues associated with winding up the affairs of the estate. Getting the right legal help  can make the process of coping with the aftermath of a death easier, so you should reach out to an experienced attorney as soon as possible when your loved one has passed. Smithtown probate attorneys

Mark S. Eghrari & Associates, PLLC will guide you through determining the steps that must be taken after your loved one has died and will take care of many issues on your behalf, such as filing the required paperwork with the court to get the probate process started. We work to reduce your stress so you can focus on your grief while we ensure that the right legal processes are underway. To get personalized advice on how we can help you, give us a call today. You can also read on to find out some basic advice from Smithtown probate attorneys on the steps that you will generally need to take after a loved one has passed.

What to Do After a Loved One Has Died

After a loved one has died, some of the key steps that you will need to take include:

  • Determining if there is a last will and testament. Your loved one may have left a will in the home, in a safe deposit box, or with an attorney who created the will. It is important to do your due diligence and do everything you can to determine if your loved one left a will providing details on what he or she wanted to do with assets. The last will and testament will also provide important insight on how to proceed, as the person who is named as executor of an estate in the will can start the court paperwork to initiate the probate process.
  • Finding out if your loved one preplanned a funeral. If your loved one made funeral plans in advance, you can simply make sure that his or her instructions are followed. If no plans were made and your loved one did not express a preference for what should happen at the funeral, you’ll need to plan a funeral and memorial in accordance with what you think the deceased would have preferred.
  • Obtaining a copy of the death certificate. You will need this to make life insurance claims and to obtain authority to manage the deceased person’s accounts and begin taking control of the estate.
  • Listing those who need to be notified. The executor of an estate will need to ensure that all of the interested parties are notified of the probate proceedings. This could include potential heirs or beneficiaries and anyone who has been named in the last will and testament as someone who will inherit.

There may also be other steps you need to take as well, depending upon the specifics of the situation. Mark S. Eghrari & Associates, PLLC  will help you to understand all of the requirements after a death so you can ensure you are moving the process forward to wind up the affairs of the estate.

Getting Help from Smithtown Probate Lawyers

If a last will and testament is in place or if your loved one had an estate plan that facilitated the transfer of assets through trust administration, we can help you with filing the necessary paperwork for the will to be probate and beginning the process of trust administration. We can represent those who have been named as executor of an estate or who have been named as a trust administrator. We can also provide representation to potential heirs or beneficiaries after a death and can also help those who wish to contest a will because they are concerned that a will being probated is not not actually an accurate reflection of the wishes of the deceased.

In every circumstance after a death, we can provide the compassionate and knowledgeable legal advice that you deserve. We know you are going through a difficult time and we are committed to trying to make your life easier. To find out more about all of the services that we can provide after the death of a loved one, join us for a free seminar. You can also give us a call at (631) 265-0599 or contact us online today to get personalized help.

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About Mark S. Eghrari, Estate Planning Attorney

Mark S. Eghrari is an attorney in private practice in Smithtown, New York. He has been in practice since 1988. Mark S. Eghrari provides extensive estate and tax planning services to individuals and businesses. Mr. Eghrari’s primary focus is helping clients avoid probate, minimize or eliminate Federal and State Estate taxes and protect their assets from the high cost of nursing care, if they become ill.