Wayne and Oakland County Michigan

Estate Administration

What You Need to Know About Estate Administration

If you are named as the executor of an estate, there are certain steps you must take to ensure that the estate is administered properly.

This can be a complex and overwhelming process, but our team at C. Smith Law Group is here to help.

We have experience handling estate administration in Wayne and Oakland Counties, and we can help guide you through every step of the process.

WAYNE AND OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN ESTATE PLANNING

First Thing You Need to do in Estate Administration

The first thing you need to do is obtain a certified copy of the death certificate. You will need this to open up the estate and start the probate process. The next step is to inventory all of the assets of the estate and determine their value.

This includes real estate, personal property, bank accounts, investments, and any other assets. Once you have a complete list of assets, you will need to file a petition with the probate court.

WAYNE AND OAKLAND COUNTY MICHIGAN ESTATE PLANNING

What’s Next in the Administration Process

The probate court will then issue Letters Testamentary, which appoints you as the executor of the estate. At this point, you will be responsible for paying any outstanding debts and liabilities of the deceased person. This includes things like taxes, funeral expenses, and creditors.

Once all debts have been paid, you can distribute the remaining assets to the beneficiaries according to the terms of the will.

If there was no will, Michigan has laws in place that dictate how the estate should be distributed. These laws take into account things like familial relationships and economic dependence. Our team at C. Smith Law Group can help you navigate these laws and make sure that the estate is distributed according to your loved one’s wishes.

Principal & Founder

Shalanda C. Leggs, Esq.

Shalanda Leggs, Esq. is Principal and Founder of The C. Smith Law Group, PLLC located in the Metropolitan Detroit area. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Eastern Michigan University and a Juris Doctor in Law from The University of Detroit School of Law.

Shalanda’s areas of primary practice include Probate (guardianship, conservatorship, estate administration) and Estate Planning and Business Law including business structure. She is a native Detroiter and possesses the hustle and drive that the city is known for.