After the death of a family member, there are numerous urgent matters to take care of, including conducting a funeral and burial, and more long-term matters such as administration of the person’s estate. If you are the executor (personal representative) for a loved one’s estate, you will benefit from the guidance and direction of an experienced probate and estate administration attorney. Rippy, Stepps & Associates provides knowledgeable and compassionate counsel through the probate process for people from throughout central Arkansas.

Know The Steps To Take After The Death Of A Loved One And Take Those Steps With Confidence

Can you administer your loved one’s estate without an attorney’s involvement? This is not a recommended course of action. You may omit important steps such as notifying creditors on time. You may make mistakes that could open the door to probate litigation or accusations of breach of fiduciary duty. To protect yourself and facilitate a smooth, efficient distribution of your loved one’s assets according to his or her wishes, consult with a lawyer as soon as possible after your loved one’s death.

Rippy, Stepps & Associates takes a comprehensive approach to legal counsel for family members in the area of probate and estate administration. In practical terms, this means that our attorneys and the law firm’s staff provide useful advice and assistance with regard to many essential details that go into the closing of an estate, including:

• Trust administration: If you are the trustee of one or more trusts pertaining to the estate, you can receive legal advice ensuring you carry out your duties correctly.
• Final tax returns for the estate: While this is not a tax law firm, we will remind you of key matters to take care of such as the final tax return.
• Real estate and other legal issues: The Rippy, Stepps & Associates aims to serve as a one-stop shop for individuals and families going through probate and estate administration. If there is a legal matter you need help with, such as selling your loved one’s real estate, we will gladly refer you to trusted professionals who have provided reliable help to other clients we have counseled in the past.

If there is no will, if someone is contesting a will or if you plan to contest the will, our attorneys can evaluate your case and make recommendations on how to resolve the dispute with as little waste of estate resources as possible.

Can You Avoid Probate Altogether?

The word “probate” has taken on bad connotations for many people. Many seek to keep their estates out of probate by setting up living trusts. If you are looking for ways to avoid or minimize the disruption of probate before death comes to your family, contact our estate planning attorneys. We can help you determine and implement legal strategies that may help you stay away from probate court. However, if probate is part of the picture after your loved one’s death (or your own), we are prepared to streamline the process.

Schedule A Consultation

Rippy, Stepps & Associates welcomes inquiries regarding probate and estate administration for central Arkansas residents and out-of-state family members of Arkansas residents. Regardless of the stage of your case in point — before death, immediately after death or some time later — Rippy, Stepps & Associates are ready to facilitate a timely conclusion to the estate administration process. Call 501-428-9139 or complete the online intake form to request an appointment at your earliest convenience.