Queens Probate

When a loved one passes away, the last thing you want to do is get caught up worrying about how you are going to manage their estate. There are many responsibilities that an estate administrator will need to take care of following the death. For this reason, a Queens Probate Lawyer from Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC has prepared the following message for you to get you through this difficult time.

During this time, anguish is often immediately trumped by the significant responsibilities associated with managing an estate including determining heirs, distributing assets and paying creditors. In Queens, New York, this process is referred to as Probate. If your loved one created a Will prior to their death, a Queens Probate Lawyer will present this Will for probate. If no Will exists, the Queens Probate Lawyer will have to present the Will for administration. With this in mind, there are tremendous benefits to having a Probate Lawyer from Queens assisting you with filing the appropriate documentation.

If your loved one had a Will, the estates executor will be responsible for the management of the estate, including distribution of assets and payment to creditors (if your loved one had any debts). If your loved one did not have a Will, a personal representative will file a petition with the court in Queens. At this point, the court will appoint an administrator who will be in charge of the estate, often a relative or close family friend.

In New York City, Probate courts are referred to as Surrogates Court. A Queens Probate Lawyer will file a probate petition or administration petition on behalf of the estate in a New York City Surrogates Court. The probate of the estate will be handled by a court located in Queens, assuming this is where your loved one lived at the time of his or her death. It is strongly suggested that you speak with a Queens Probate Lawyer before dealing with the Queens Surrogates Court.

After the Queens Probate Lawyer files the Probate or Administrative petition, the Queens Surrogates Court will have the right to give the estates administrator the power to distribute assets and pay debts. Your loved ones assets include cash, stocks and bonds, insurance policies, investment assets, vehicles, jewelry, artwork, clothing and personal items. The estates administrator will also have the power to distribute property, land and buildings that are located in Queens only. The New York Surrogates Court does not have jurisdiction over property in other states.

At Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC, each Queens Probate Lawyer from our office spends years working with families in Queens Surrogates Court. Each Probate Lawyer has an in-depth understanding of the Queens Court system and will work diligently to help you through every step of the Probate process.

If you are looking for a Queens Probate Lawyer, get a free consultation now by calling us at 800.696.9529 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We are located throughout New York City including Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester County and Long Island. Call a Queens Probate Lawyer now from Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC at 800.696.9529, contact us today!