Probate is the process required by law to authenticate a will before the assets it details can be distributed as desired. The will is submitted to a special court, which checks the document’s authenticity and accepts it as valid. As part of this process, the court may also allot funds from the estate in question to pay off taxes or debts. Read on to find out more about probate court and how to prepare for it.

Who Goes to Probate Court?

Every will names an executor—the person in charge of carrying out the document’s specifications. When someone passes, the executor is usually the person who files the petition with the probate court. A notice of the hearing’s date is published to make the news public so other parties, such as creditors, are aware of what’s happened. 

If you are the executor and these steps have been taken, go on to take inventory of the estate. Put together a list of everything the person owned, including cars, real estate, trusts, life insurance policies, retirement plans, and savings bonds. Determine the market value of each item and whether it has a named beneficiary.

The courts will check this inventory and, as needed, take assets to pay off debts. For this reason, it’s also important to keep track of any money the deceased owed. This includes everything from unpaid credit cards and mortgages to student loans, alimony, and medical bills.

All of this information should be documented in an organized fashion to provide to the courts. Getting this done correctly will help expedite the probate process. Errors will lead to delays—and mean the beneficiaries have to wait even longer to get what they are due.

If you’re preparing for probate court, turn to the team at Vernau Law LLC to ensure no errors are made and the process goes smoothly. Located in Granville, OH, they have been serving the area for more than 25 years. You can find out more about the law firm’s services online. For an appointment, call (740) 587-2637.