probate court pros and cons

by chad
(connecticut)

Hi. my name is chad. i lost my wife 2 weeks ago. We live in connecticut. what are the pros and cons of going Vs. not going to probate court?

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probate court pros and cons

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Jan 07, 2012
 probate court pros and cons
by: Debtcollectionanswers.com

Chad, I am so sorry about your loss. I recently lost my father so I know how difficult it is to have to deal with all of the practical issues that arise when someone dies and to make important decisions when you are grieving.

I am not an attorney nor do I know the details of your wife's will and her finances. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you schedule an appointment with a probate attorney in your area right away. (Contact a law firm that provides probate and estate planning services) The attorney will review your wife's will and any other estate planning documents she may have, determine how any assets she owned by herself or with you were titled, find out what debts she may have left behind, and so on. Based on his review of this information, the attorney will be able to advise you about whether or not the probate process is necessary in your particular situation. An initial appointment or two with a probate attorney should not be costly.

You should also know that the estate of a deceased person must file an estate tax return with the State of CT regardless of the estate's value. High value estates must also file a return with the federal government. This is something else you will want to discuss with the attorney.

Bottom line, without knowing more than I do about your situation and the estate of your deceased wife, my best advice is to meet with a probate attorney. The meeting will buy you the peace of mind of knowing that you have handled things correctly and that you are not going to create any legal or financial problems for yourself down the road. Good luck and my condolences again.

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