Probate & Estate Administration

Houston Probate Attorney

Board Certified in Estate Planning & Probate Law

The time following the passing of a loved one is emotional. When your family wants nothing more than to grieve and keep your loved one's legacy alive, they are faced with the long and complex process of probate and estate administration. At the Law Offices of Charles A. Crocker, we help clients through this process with as little strain as possible. Our firm handles the intricacies of the legal process of administering and closing the estate so that you don't have to. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation with a skilled probate lawyer.

When an individual dies, the ensuing legal matters are much more complex than paying bills and distributing assets to the heirs. The estate must pass through probate, which involves:

• Notification: All interested parties (family members, potential heirs, creditors, etc.) must be notified in accordance with specific notification requirements.
• Proving the will valid: The decedent's will can only take effect once it has been proved valid and entered into the Probate Court record. This can be a delicate issue when certain concerned parties have been cut out of the will or believe that the construction of the will was tampered with. Will contests may arise with allegations of duress, fraud, or other factors.
• Assets and liabilities: The personal representative (also known as the administrator or executor) must collect all of the decedent's assets (including re-titling assets) and create an inventory of such assets. Once creditors have made claims, the representative must determine the validity of such debts, liquidate certain assets to pay these debts, and distribute payment to creditors.
• Taxes: If the estate exceeds the exempt amount - which many larger estates do - state and federal estate taxes must be filed and paid.
• Distribution to heirs: Once all assets have been collected and debts paid, distribution may be made to the named heirs. However, when heirs are not named in a will or estate planning document, the assets must pass through intestate succession (distribution to heirs according to Texas statutes).

At the Law Offices of Charles A. Crocker, we understand that probate and estate administration process can be overwhelming. We take on the legal burdens so that you can get back to your loved ones. Our firm strives to facilitate the probate and estate administration process and render it as smooth as possible, focusing on carrying out your loved one's final wishes.

If you have questions about the estate administration process, or require skilled representation in probate litigation, contact us to schedule an initial consultation with an experienced and caring Houston attorney.

Law Offices of Charles A. Crocker
1770 St. James Place, Suite 601
Houston, Texas 77056

Phone: (713) 524-2181
Fax: (713) 527-8408
Email
Offering Free Consultations

We conveniently serve clients in Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Galveston, Chambers, and Matagorda Counties, the greater Houston area including Pearland, Alvin, Clear Lake, Texas City, Galveston, Webster, Friendswood, Pasadena, Baytown, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Richmond/Rosenberg, Katy, Conroe, The Woodlands, Humble, and Kingwood.