Probate Attorneys in Longmont & Thornton

There are many legal issues that need to be handled right away after someone passes away. 

Our probate lawyers can help you with every single one of them, including:

• Obtaining letters testamentary or letters of administration
• Solidifying your authority as personal representative (formerly called an executor or executrix)
• Publishing proper notices to creditors
• Sending out your information of appointment to interested persons
• Handling creditor claims
• Valuing and distributing assets
• Drafting personal representative deeds
• Distributing and selling homes or other real estate

Each probate estate is different and can require different strategies in order to ensure that everything goes as quickly and as smoothly as possible. Our attorneys can guide you through the process and make sure you complete all the steps while staying out of trouble with the courts.

What Is a Probate Lawyer?

Probate lawyers help their clients fulfill their roles as administrators, personal representatives, or executors of estates. A probate attorney’s job is to assist you as you go through the entire Colorado probate process with as little or as much help as you need. 

How Does Probate Work in Colorado?

Probate is a court-supervised legal process used to transfer a deceased person's assets to their rightful heirs. In the state of Colorado, the probate process begins when an individual passes away and their estate requires settlement. An executor or personal representative may be appointed by a court to manage the decedent’s estate and ensure that all legal obligations are met. This can include collecting assets, paying debts, filing taxes, and distributing the remaining property to heirs in accordance with the decedent's will. The personal representative must also handle any disputes that may arise during the probate process.

Probate in Colorado usually takes between six months and a year to complete, and the process may cost a considerable amount of money in legal fees. To avoid probate altogether, individuals can create a trust or transfer assets into joint tenancy prior to death. This will help ensure that their assets are distributed per their wishes without having to go through the lengthy probate process.

For more information about how probate works in Colorado, individuals may consult with an experienced estate planning attorney who can provide guidance and advice. 

Do You Need a Probate Lawyer?

If you are wondering if you could benefit from an experienced probate attorney in Colorado, ask yourself the following questions:

• Have you previously handled the probate of an estate?
• Is it possible for the estate to be distributed without probate?
• Will the family members named in the will agree on how the estate will be distributed?
• Is the amount of money in the estate sufficient to pay its debts?

If you answered no to some or all of these, you should contact an experienced Colorado probate attorney at Althaus Law immediately. 

How Althaus Law Can Help You

If you are having issues outside of Colorado and need help with an ancillary probate, you can rely on our firm as well. Out-of-state probate is even more complicated, and many extra issues become involved. Wondering if you need an attorney at all? We can help you decide if one is needed.

Looking for more information? You can find our checklist of things to do in probate here.

If you have questions about the probate process in Colorado, our Longmont and Thornton probate attorneys can give you answers. Contact Althaus Law for compassionate and experienced guidance through your loss.