What Is Probate?
After a person passes away, the survivors of their estate must go through a court-supervised legal process called “probate.” This process will determine which family member or beneficiary is entitled to have legal authority over the administration of the assets in the estate. The person granted this authority is responsible for transferring property and funds, as well as paying debts and taxes owed by the estate. The probate process in Tennessee can be lengthy, sometimes taking six months to a year to complete. It can be even longer if the estate has unusually complicated assets or if there is a contentious battle over the validity of a will.
When Is Estate Litigation Necessary?
Estate litigation is a particular area of law that deals primarily with resolving contested trust and estate proceedings. Our estate litigation attorneys are familiar with Tennessee’s probate codes and court procedures for determining the management and distribution of trusts and estate assets. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our estate and probate legal team in Franklin if you need legal advice regarding:
- Trust modification
- Trust litigation
- Guardianships and conservatorships
- Disputing undue influence over a will
- Breaches of fiduciary duties by trustees
- Will contests
Do you need help resolving estate administration matters in Franklin? When you choose Puryear, Newman & Morton, PLLC to represent you, we make it our top priority to develop personal and professional relationships with you so that we can tailor our legal strategy to the unique needs of your case. Our firm has been serving clients in Franklin, Nashville, and Middle Tennessee for more than 20 years, and we are prepared to put our legal skills to work for you.
