Estate Administration in Massachusetts
As a deceased person’s will executor, you must oversee countless tasks, from inventorying property to notifying creditors and distributing assets to beneficiaries. Estate administration mistakes can complicate this legal process and cause family conflict.
Our attorneys at Jordan & White, LLC, serving the North Shore of Massachusetts, help families and will executors handle estate administration. We take the uncertainty and hassle out of estate administration so you can have peace of mind during this challenging time.
Call us at (978) 744-2811 to learn more about our estate administration services.
What Estate Administration Includes in Massachusetts
If a decedent appointed you as their will executor, you are responsible for all the final arrangements of the decedent’s estate, including:
- Setting up a bank account designated for estate administration
- Inventorying and valuing assets
- Handling all matters related to probate
- Management of real estate property until it passes to beneficiaries—e.g., making mortgage and homeowners’ insurance payments
- Filing the decedent’s final income tax return and other tax documents
- Notifying creditors of the decedent’s death and paying off any valid debts
- Distributing the remainder of the estate to beneficiaries
The Probate Process in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, all the decedent’s assets must go through probate court, except for:
- Assets the decedent had owned jointly with a surviving spouse
- Payable-on-death IRAs or bank accounts
- Pension benefits and life insurance proceeds
- Assets the decedent had placed in a living trust
Small estates may go through a simplified probate procedure. Otherwise, probate takes about a year to allow time for creditor claims.
The probate process may be more complicated if the decedent died without a will or if some of the beneficiaries dispute the will. Our attorneys at Jordan & White can help you navigate probate difficulties and assist with probate litigation if necessary.
Do You Need an Estate Administration Attorney?
Some will executors close the decedent’s estate without hiring an estate lawyer. However, estate administration may get tricky with large, complex, or highly indebted estates. Trusted estate administration services can save a lot of time and help you avoid legal pitfalls.
At Jordan & White, we help families and will executors:
- Comply with state law when handling estate administration in Massachusetts
- Resolve will disputes and other probate litigation matters
- Wrap up the decedent’s estate and file the necessary tax documents
- Gather all relevant documentation for probate court filings
- Resolve the decedent’s debt obligations
- Prevent conflicts within the family
Additionally, if you are a successor trustee, we can help you step into your new role and make sure you follow both the trust document and Massachusetts state laws.
Jordan & White, LLC: Simplifying Estate Administration on the North Shore of Massachusetts
Estate administration is a task that involves a lot of work and legal documentation. At Jordan & White, estate and probate attorneys, we can help you avoid complications and streamline the process of estate closure. We support families and will executors throughout estate administration and probate proceedings.
Call us at (978) 744-2811 or contact us online for reliable estate administration services on the North Shore of Massachusetts.