When a loved one dies, their estate must be settled. While most people want the settlement process to be done ASAP, probate can take anywhere from 18 and 24 months. This time delay can cause a great deal of stress and frustration. Here are the 5 most common reasons probate takes so long:

1.    Paperwork. Managing probate required paperwork can be a monumental undertaking with structured timelines and court-imposed deadlines.

2.    Complexity.Estates with numerous or complicated assets simply take longer to probate as there are more items to be accounted for and valued.

3.    Probate court caseload.Most probate courts are dealing with high caseloads and limited staff.

4.    Challenges to the will. Heirs, beneficiaries, and those, who thoughtthey’d be beneficiaries, can object to and challenge the will’s terms and legality. While state law dictates how long they have to object, will challenges can add years to the process.  Common challenges include that the testator was:

·       Lacking testamentary capacity

·       Delusional

·       Subject to undue influence

·       A victim of fraud

5.    Creditor Notification.A will’s executor must notify the decedent’s creditors so they have time to submit claims for debts. This time period varies from state to state as well, but it is generally six to nine months.

The bottom line is that, while most state probate laws are designed to keep the process moving along in a timely manner, that’s more of a plan than a reality.

Simply Put, Avoiding Probate with a Trust Is The Better Option

Simply put, having assets in a trust is typically the better planning option. Administration generally only takes six to eight months total – meaning that the process is not tied up in court, beneficiaries get assets faster, costs are reduced, and stress levels are kept to a minimum.

Take Action Now

First, if you need help settling a probate estate, we can help you move the process along and remove some of the burden so you can move on with your life. Second, we can help you make sure you never burden your loved ones the way you may have been burden. How? We’ll show you how to avoid probate with a trust (or other will substitutes if necessary).

For more information on the probate process or estate planning, call (954) 999-9683.

The Legacy Law Firm – Where Your Legacy Lives On