When someone dies, the people left behind often have to handle their affairs while they are still grieving. Bills arrive, accounts are frozen, and there are court forms and deadlines to meet. Knowing what to do first, and what can wait, makes a real difference.
We work with personal representatives, beneficiaries, trustees and heirs. We guide estates through the Probate Court from start to finish, whether or not the person left a will. When a family disagrees about a will or an estate, we also handle probate litigation.
How we help with an estate
- Opening the estate and qualifying the personal representative
- Inventory and accounting of all assets and debts
- Tracking changes in the value of the estate
- Re-titling assets to heirs and beneficiaries
- Collecting debts owed to the estate and paying its bills
- Paying funeral and medical expenses
- Tax analysis for the estate
- Estates with a will and estates without one (intestate)
- Contested wills, undue influence and valuation disputes
Probate in Anderson County
In South Carolina, estates are administered through the Probate Court in the county where the person lived. For most local families, that is the Anderson County Probate Court. The court appoints a personal representative, who is responsible for gathering the assets, paying valid debts and expenses, and distributing what is left to the people entitled to it.
A personal representative has real legal duties, and mistakes can be costly. We help you meet each requirement, keep accurate records and close the estate properly.
When a will or estate is contested
Families sometimes disagree about a will or how an estate is being handled. A will may be challenged if someone believes it was signed under undue influence or duress, or that the person lacked the capacity to make it. Disputes can also arise over the value of property or the actions of a personal representative or trustee. We represent clients on either side of these disputes in Probate Court.
