Nassau County Probate - Probate in Florida
Grief can be an overwhelming feeling especially when you are trying to cope with the loss of a loved one. However it is also a critical time to hire a probate lawyer to help with the administration of the estate. It is one of the many aspects of death that is best dealt with sooner rather than later, however there is no time limit to file the probate on an estate -however, hiring a probate lawyer is best done soon.
The Florida probate law states that you must have a probate lawyer to help you in the administration of an estate, unless you are doing it through disposition without administration. Disposition without administration is common for small estates and estates where the sole beneficiary and the executor are the same person. For all other estates you are required by Florida probate law to hire a probate lawyer to administer your probate. In some cases, even if you think the probate will be simple, it's good to consult a probate lawyer; Florida probate law is complex and can be quite discouraging for someone who isn't fully apprised of the laws.
You can hire any Florida area probate lawyer to help you administer your case - you are not bound by geography in who you can hire - you can hire a lawyer from anywhere in the state that is convenient for you. Most of estate probate administration is done through postal mail, fax, telephone and email, so residence isn't a factor; however, if there are issues that are to be contested, that will require Court appearances, so it is best to have a Nassau County Probate Attorney , because a Nassau probate attorney would be more familiar with local Judges and Courts, and this could prove helpful.
The time that it takes to complete the administration on a probate is also variable depending on complexity and differences in each case. When you hire a probate lawyer a nontaxable estate probate that requires summary administration usually takes between four and five weeks where a nontaxable estate probate that requires full administration takes between six and twelve months. A taxable estate probate takes even longer and usually is completed in about two years; most of that time is spent waiting for the IRS to sign off on the Estate tax return before the probate administration can be completed.
If it is your spouse that has passed away and all assets are co-owned, you may not require a probate lawyer, however it is best to contact one to ensure that you are heading down the right road. Don't risk mishandling the estate you have been appointed to protect. You must be certain that all creditors and governmental agencies are properly paid so that the beneficiaries receive their assets free of problems in the future. Only a Florida probate attorney can assist you in this matter.
