Practice area
Settling a parent’s estate
When a parent dies, someone has to gather what they owned, pay what they owed and pass on the rest. We do the court work and walk the executor through the rest.
- 01
Step 1: Opening the estate
We file the will and the petition and get the executor appointed.
- 02
Step 2: Notices and claims
We notify heirs and creditors and handle the claims that come in.
- 03
Step 3: The house and the accounts
Selling or transferring the house, closing accounts, collecting life insurance.
- 04
Step 4: Closing the estate
The final accounting, the last tax returns and the distribution to heirs.
When there’s property in both states
A parent who lived in Moline and kept a lake lot in Iowa leaves an estate in two courts. Since our attorneys practice in both, one firm handles both, with one set of bills.
One firm, both courts
The main estate where your parent lived, and a short second one where the other property sits.
Small-estate shortcuts
Some estates qualify for a shorter process. We check before anything is filed.
Questions
About probate
Does every estate go through probate?
No. Accounts with a named beneficiary, jointly owned property and assets in a trust usually pass without it. We sort the list at the first meeting.
How long does probate take?
Many estates close in six to twelve months. Selling a house or a dispute among heirs can make it longer.
Do I have to live nearby to be executor?
No. We’ve worked with executors in other states by phone and video; you may need to come in once to sign.
Sit down before you sign anything
An hour, free, with the death certificate, the will if there is one and the last bank statements.