A number of questions will come up as you start to settle someone’s affairs, including…
- Do you know what banks they used?
- Do they know if they have a Last Will?
- Can you log in to their computer?
- Can you decipher their files?
- Do you know their usernames and passwords?
- Did they have a safe deposit box?
- Did they have life insurance?
- Will any family feuds be re-ignited by their passing?
My team and I are here to reduce your stress by guiding you through the estate administration process.
We’ll help you answer all your questions (and think of those you might forget), so that you can be confident you’re carrying out your loved one’s wishes.
Whether or not the decedent created a Last Will and detailed statement of their wishes, or simply left a pile of their possessions, we’ll make sense of the legal, financial, and tax implications together.
On this page, we’ll answer some of the most common questions we hear from families left to manage their loved one’s affairs.
You can also book a free consult call with us for personal guidance. Schedule your free, no-obligation consult call now or read on for answers to common estate administration questions.
What does the estate administration process involve?
That’s an excellent question, and usually the first we hear. Wrapping up a decedent’s affairs can encompass a number of things, including probate — the word we all hate to hear, because movies and TV make it sound a lot worse than it usually is. Here’s what probate actually involves:
- Verifying the existence and validity of the Last Will and Testament.
- Appointing an executor (named in the Last Will) to administer the estate.
- Collecting and listing out the decedent’s assets, and keeping those separate (so no merging bank accounts right now, please).
- Resolving any outstanding debts and taxes.
- Distributing the remaining assets to beneficiaries.
“I still want to avoid probate, because I’ve heard it’s awful.”
Probate gets a bad rap thanks to California and New York, where the process is cumbersome, lengthy, and expensive. But —along with state spirit, sheer size, and steers —Texas prides itself on not being California or New York.
If there are no fights among beneficiaries, Texas probate can be wrapped up in a few months—meaning you and your loved ones can give your energy to remembering and cherishing the person you lost.
How we work to leave you with No Unfinished Business®.
We will quickly, correctly, and confidently carry out their last wishes and tie up all the loose ends for the surviving loved ones.
No family squabbles, power grabs, or dramatic graveside revelations necessary.
We’ve laid out a three-step process to take you through the preparations and paperwork you’ll need to give yourself and your family peace of mind.
Step 1: Talk to our staff about your situation.
During this quick, informative, no-obligation call (usually 15-30 minutes), we’ll gather all the necessary info from you about the situation, to help us determine the level of service that is needed. The probate process is not one-size-fits-all here in Texas, so the details matter. We know situations can be complicated, stressful, confusing, and emotional, and believe us, we’ve pretty much heard it all.
Some common things we’ll ask about on this call.
- Who died?
- When did they die? (If it’s been more than four years, our administration options are limited by law)
- What assets did they have?
- Did they have a Last Will?
- Do you have the Last Will?
- Where is the original of the Last Will now?
- Where did the decedent live when they died?
- Who is named as the executor in the Last Will?
- Were they married?
- Did they have any children?
- Any other family members involved in the estate?
- Do you foresee any family conflict regarding the estate?
Step 2: We determine the plan of action
We’ll take all the info you gave us, parse through it, determine if we’re the right firm for you and your family, and outline the smartest possible options for you to move forward and tie up those loose ends.
There’s a wide variety of probate options in Texas, from simple to complex, and our pricing usually follows suit.
We work on a flat-fee basis, so not only will you have a recommended plan of action, but you’ll also know exactly what it will cost.
Step 3: Start the Administration Process
If you choose Strohmeyer Law to help you take care of the decedent’s estate, we’ll be honored. We’ll set up a longer session to gather more details and paperwork, give a rough estimate of the timeline (probate can take time), and explain all the moving parts.
This is the point at which you’ll start to see the light at the end of the estate-administration tunnel.
Book your consultation call now.
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What kind of probate situation are you in?
No muss, no fuss with a Last Will
Someone’s passed and we need to tie up the loose ends.
- There’s a Last Will that clearly says who gets what, and you know where the original is.
- You have a good idea of what assets the decedent owned.
- You’re not expecting any conflicts among the beneficiaries.
- The executor named in the Last Will is ready and willing to serve, and the beneficiaries agree with that person serving.
No Last Will & probably no fuss
Someone’s passed and we need to tie up the loose ends, but there’s not a Last Will to guide the process.
- There’s no Last Will.
- You may have an idea of what assets are out there.
- You’re not expecting any conflicts among the beneficiaries.
Something else…
Someone’s passed, but your situation doesn’t fit into either of the previous two options.
- There’s a Last Will, but you don’t know where the original is.
- There’s a Last Will, but it’s not clear who gets what.
- The beneficiaries may cause problems.
- The executor named in the Last Will can’t or won’t serve.
- The beneficiaries will have a problem with the named executor serving.
Our No Unfinished Business® Guarantee
- It means that if there’s anything wrong with your documents, you’re not on the hook to pay us to fix it.
- It means we expect to coordinate with your other advisors, and not bill you for that time.
- It means that if you have a question about how your plan works, we’ll answer that question for no charge.
- It means that if you have a question about how to set up your beneficiary designations or fund your trusts, we’re here to answer that for free.
We’re here to make this easy and complete for you. Service is at the heart of our business, and we we’ll work hard to make sure you’re satisfied from start to finish.
Unfortunately, we’ll all die, but we’re here to make sure that you leave No Unfinished Business®.
Reasons to call us immediately
👶 Someone was born!
💀 Someone died.
💒 Someone got married!
👮 Someone had an unrequested interaction with the police
🤔 Someone’s not quite all there
Practice Areas
Trusts
Decide how you’d like your assets to be managed for your beneficiaries.
International Tax
Address tax issues for US residents earning abroad or for non-residents here.
Taxes
We wish they weren’t so complicated. But because they are, you’ll get help on both the personal and business sides.
