Probate noun The legal process of administering an Estate of a deceased person. The probate estate has three main functions: 1. Ensuring all assets are accounted for; 2. Payment of final expenses and debts of the decedent; 3. Distributing the remaining property to the heirs/beneficiaries of the Estate.
Probate is not necessarily a hard process, but it is often time consuming and is open to the public. These are the two most common reasons that individuals use a trust, payable on death designation, or joint tenancy ownership to avoid a probate.
The law offices of Brent S. Howard perform probate procedures for all of southwestern Oklahoma, including the towns of Altus, Hobart, Hollis, Sayre, Frederick, Mangum and Snyder. If you have had a loved one pass away, then please call my office to set up a complimentary consultation to discuss any actions that are needed for their estate.