What is Probate?

In our system, deceased people no longer own property, and cannot protect their legal interests. Someone needs to be put in the place of the deceased person to deal with their legal matters such as selling property, paying debts, and finalizing legal matters which arose prior to the person’s death.

The process of appointing a living person to handle the affairs of a deceased person is called probate. The court appoints a representative (known as a “personal representative” “executor” or “administrator”) to stand in the shoes of the deceased person to finalize that person’s legal affairs. The appointed representative has the power to do all of this.

If there is a will, the representative follows the terms of the will. If there is no will, the representative follows the law in place for such situations. When someone dies without a will, they are “intestate.”

Why Use a Local Attorney?

Probate proceedings are usually local to where the deceased person owned property or died. A Bend Oregon Attorney is uniquely situated to advise surviving family and loved ones regarding the probate process. Our Central Oregon law firm is here to help you during this difficult time.

Legal Fees in Probate Cases

Legal fees and costs in probate cases usually come from the deceased person’s estate. Typically, the cost upfront to you is minimal. Call our Central Oregon law firm for details.

Why Do You Need Probate?

Perhaps a loved one had a claim for personal injury prior to their death. Many times, the negligence of another person caused the death. A Bend probate lawyer can coordinate with a personal injury attorney to make sure that important deadlines are not missed.

Unfortunately, family conflicts frequently arise after the death of a loved one. An experienced Bend divorce attorney with probate knowledge can certainly be your best choice for a probate lawyer in these situations.

Our firm has handled many probates, large and small. We are here to help you in this difficult time.

Probate Terms

Legal terms can be confusing. Consult our probate glossary for further information.