Title: Can Probate Be Avoided?
1 Can Probate Be Avoided?
2Myth
3You may have seen a fictional depiction
4Someone dies, and after the funeral there is a
reading of the will
5The assumption is that the person who reads the
will distributes the property directly to the
heirs to the estate
6Reality
Reality
7If you use a will to transfer your assets, you
choose an EXECUTOR
8This is the person who administers the estate
9When you pass away, the executor is bound by the
laws of the state of Indiana
10He or she must admit the will to probate before
any inheritances are distributed
11Probate
Probate
12What Is Probate?
13It is a legal process
14The probate court determines the VALIDITY OF THE
LAST WILL
15Final debts must be paid during probate
16Challenges to the estate could be presented
during probate
17How Long Does It Take?
18The exact duration of the probate proceeding will
vary on a case-by-case basis
19Simple cases will take months
20The more complicated the situation is, the
longer it will take
21In some instances probate can go on for years
22Does Probate Cost Anything?
23There are expenses that can pile up during the
probate process
241
The court imposes a fee
251
The court imposes a fee
2
The executor must be paid, and various
professionals will usually be brought in
26These probate expenses will reduce the amount of
the inheritances that are received by the heirs
27Can Probate Be Avoided?
28When you hear about probate you may wonder if it
can be avoided
29The answer is yes, there are a number of
different probate avoidance strategies that can
be implemented
30One very commonly utilized solution would be the
CREATION OF A REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST
31Indianapolis Probate Avoidance Consultation
32If you would like to discuss probate avoidance
strategies with a licensed attorney, we invite
you to contact our firm
33We would be glad to provide you with a free
consultation. Frank Kraft (317) 684-1100
www.FrankKraft.com