michigan - oakland county probate attorney

Probate is a process that occurs after someone dies.  It is the act of proving that a will was signed and executed in accordance with the legal requirements as set out in the state where it was signed.  It is through probate that property is legally transferred from the estate of a person, known as the "decedent," to the rightful beneficiary.  

When a loved one passes away there are two questions a qualified probate attorney should ask.  The first question is whether the person died with or without a will.  The answer to this question will let the probate attorney know which process must be followed.  Although some documents may be the same, it is a completely different process.  The second question a probate attorney should ask is what are the assets of the estate.  The answer to this question will let the probate attorney know whether probate is even necessary.

This s the legal process wherein a valid will is probated, meaning the assets of the estate will pass in accordance with the terms of the will to the named beneficiaries in the will.  When the will is probated, the court is finding that the will is valid and it was never revoked.  

If your loved one dies without a will the legal term is they died intestate.  Michigan law dictates who the beneficiaries will be and the percentage of the estate they are entitled to.