Estate Administration

Estate Lawyers in Missoula

Experienced Estate Lawyers Helping Families in Missoula, Ravalli County, and Throughout Montana

Navigating the complicated administrative duties associated with managing an estate can be overwhelming for those that are not trained in the estate and gift area of law. At Bulman Jones & Cook PLLC, we offer guidance to ensure a successful and smooth transition for those that assume the duty of executor or trustee of an estate.

We make it our priority to protect both the assets and family relationships of my clients. Call one of our Missoula estate administration lawyers to learn about the services we offer to administrators, trustees, and beneficiaries. Call Bulman, Jones & Cook PLLC for a free consultation.

Losing a loved one is never easy and the stress of administering an estate can quickly become overwhelming. Bulman Jones & Cook PLLC can guide you through the complicated Probate court system, and we stand ready to do what it takes to settle the estate, whether it involves a simple transfer of property or complex litigation.

Effective Estate Administration involves many factors, including any potential international implications of a particular plan’s provisions as well as federal and state income and estate tax laws. Time and again, our Montana Probate lawyers have been trusted to ensure the efficient and orderly administration of estates of all sizes.

In Montana, there are clear, step-by-step procedures for administering a person’s final affairs, whether he or she died with or without a Will. The process of administering a person’s will is known as probate while implementing the terms of a revocable living trust, irrevocable trust, and other alternative estate planning tools is referred to more broadly as Estate Administration.

In Montana, it is common for personal representatives, beneficiaries, heirs, and other interested parties to run into issues during the process. From choosing the correct form of Probate to dealing with will contests and other disputes in Probate Litigation, there are a number of reasons why those preparing for Probate or Estate Administration may need the help of an experienced licensed attorney.

If you have been named personal representative of someone’s estate, or if you have recently lost a loved one and want to make sure that his or her final wishes are carried through, Bulman Jones & Cook PLLC can help. We are compassionate advocates who take a diligent and thorough approach to protect the interests of our clients, both in and out of court.

At Bulman Jones & Cook PLLC, we offer Estate Administration services to personal representatives, trustees, beneficiaries, and creditors of an estate. If you have lost a loved one, our Missoula Estate Administration lawyers will be sensitive to your personal and legal needs as we handle the final affairs of your loved one’s estate.

Our lawyers are fluent in the complexities of Montana Probate laws, estate taxes and other issues that often arise during estate and Trust Administration. To schedule a Free Consultation to learn how we can help, please call Bulman Jones & Cook PLLC today.

Experienced Lawyers Jones and Cook Help You Navigate the Estate Administration Process

As Montana Estate Administration attorneys, we know that it is important at the beginning of an Estate Administration to obtain as much information concerning the decedent as possible. Typically we ask clients who are applying to become the estate fiduciary to bring for review all the papers that are available regarding the estate.

These papers include past income tax returns, bank statements, brokerage account reports, bills such as credit card debts and medical bills, mortgage bills, deeds, retirement fund items, and life insurance papers. The preparation of the appropriate forms for the Surrogate’s Court is expedited and made more complete for having all of these items available for review.

We typically prepare all of the Court papers for the proposed Executor or Administrator to review and then file them with the Court after they are approved and signed by our client. This process can be expedited if all of the necessary information is quickly located. The Surrogate’s Court review of complete and accurate papers can then lead to the probate of a Will or grant an appointment of an administrator in an intestate estate. In estate cases, the court wants to have an original certified copy of the decedent’s death certificate.

Also, in Probate matters and Intestate Administration filings, there needs to be a petition. The petition, whether it is a Probate Petition or Petition for Letters of Administration, needs to contain information such as the names and addresses of the decedent’s next of kin. The petition must specify the established value of the property which constitutes the estate. There are additional papers that may be needed. These can include a Kinship Affidavit or a Bond Affidavit that lists the various outstanding debts such as funeral expenses, medical bills, and credit card bills.

We will then continue to represent the Executor or Administrator with respect to such duties as collecting assets and obtaining appraisals as required; filing inventories in a timely manner; paying creditors; filing estate and income tax returns and paying taxes, if any; distributing remaining assets to beneficiaries and finally closing the estate by filing a final account. Many of these tasks require that we provide third parties with documents and authorizations properly signed by the fiduciary as well as certified copies of Letters of Testamentary and Letters of Administration.

Additional services that the estate fiduciary can benefit from is assistance with obtaining a proper tax identification number and opening an estate bank account for the deposit of estate assets.