Middlebury Probate Lawyer

Middlebury Probate Attorney

Middlebury is a beautiful suburban town in Haven County, home to the attractions at Lake Quassapaug and surrounded by New England’s natural beauty. It’s generally considered a great place to raise a family, and an important aspect of raising a family is preparing for the future. A Middlebury probate lawyer can be a crucial resource if your family is facing difficult probate proceedings after the death of a loved one.

Experienced Probate Counsel in Middlebury, CT

The attorneys at Burns Thomas, LLC, have extensive experience helping clients in Middlebury and the surrounding communities of Connecticut with estate planning and probate. End-of-life planning is an uncomfortable topic for some people, but it’s an important consideration if you want to help your family avoid a potentially lengthy and difficult probate process.

Only about 32% of Americans have estate plans as of 2024. Of those who do not, 40% believe they do not own enough assets to need an estate plan, while 43% blame procrastination. It is never too early to start thinking about estate planning, and it is vital to understand the benefits of taking steps to help your family avoid probate if possible after your death.

We provide compassionate and individualized legal counsel. If a family member has recently died without an estate plan in place and you and your loved ones now face a difficult probate process, you can trust us to provide guidance and support through every stage of these proceedings. Estate administration is difficult in several ways, so it’s vital to hire a probate lawyer you can trust at your first opportunity.

Understanding Probate in Middlebury

Probate is the formal legal process of estate administration that unfolds after a person has died without an estate plan in place. This process follows the state’s laws of intestate succession, meaning it is very strict, tedious, and notoriously time-consuming. However, only about 2% of Americans understand how long probate can take, which is an average of 20 months. Only about 4% guess probate costs correctly.

When an estate enters probate, the court follows intestate succession laws to determine how the contents of the estate are distributed to the beneficiaries of the estate. This is an impartial process, and it can, unfortunately, lead to disputes among beneficiaries. The probate process does not take personal family dynamics into account, so some beneficiaries may feel slighted or that the court is not honoring the deceased’s wishes.

It is also possible for probate to become necessary when an individual dies, but their will is contested by their beneficiaries. Ideally, the probate process entails reviewing a Last Will and Testament, ensuring it is legally enforceable, and then distributing the contents of the estate to beneficiaries after all outstanding debts are resolved. Disputes can arise for many reasons and significantly extend the timetable for probate proceedings.

How a Middlebury Probate Lawyer Can Help

Working with an experienced Middlebury probate lawyer is the ideal option when your family faces a difficult probate case. A skilled attorney can help your family approach probate with greater confidence and assist you with resolving disputes as they arise. The team at Burns Thomas, LLC, can also provide estate planning services that may enable your family to avoid probate entirely.

Ultimately, probate is a difficult process in several ways, and proper estate planning can potentially help your family avoid an expensive and contentious series of legal proceedings. The team at Burns Thomas, LLC, has successfully created many legally enforceable estate plans, and we take a client-focused approach to legal counsel. You can trust us to address your individual goals and concerns, so reach out to our team as soon as possible to learn how we can help.

Whether the best option for you is a comprehensive will, the establishment of trusts or other estate planning solutions, we will find a solution that fits your needs.

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FAQs

The team at Burns Thomas, LLC, can help you and your family approach probate with peace of mind. We can also provide comprehensive estate planning services if you want to do whatever you can to help your family avoid probate, if possible, after your death. It is vital to connect with legal counsel you can trust at your first opportunity, so contact us today and schedule your consultation with an experienced Middlebury probate lawyer.