Corpus Christi LGBTQ+ Probate Attorneys

At some point, we all die. Nobody wants to think about this. Why would you? Sadly, the time will come when your loved one will die. When this happens, you’re going to need to be with your friends and family. You’re not going to want to deal with attorneys and bill collectors. Unfortunately, it won’t be long before these companies start contacting you. When this happens, it’s time to contact one of Eddington Worley’s Corpus Christi LGBTQ+ probate attorneys. You will have to deal with some immediate things, such as calling the funeral home and arranging for your loved one’s burial.

Beyond that, you shouldn’t be burdened with handling their estate as well. It can be complicated and time-consuming. You may have no idea what’s expected of you. And, why would you? Nobody teaches us this stuff when we’re growing up. It’s something we don’t ever want to think about, but a Texas LGBTQ+ probate attorney is an expert in this field.

Sadly, no matter how upset you are, you will have to deal with this at some point. An estate will have to be opened. You’ll have to gather your partner’s assets and distribute them to their heirs. You’ll also have to find a way to pay off any debts your loved one left when they died. If it feels like this is too much, you’re not alone. That’s why Eddington Worley has experienced LGBTQ+ probate lawyers ready to help you. Call us at 855-949-0056 and speak with our experts.

Is There a Will?

If your partner had a will, things may not be that complicated. You simply gather their assets, pay off creditors and then distribute the assets according to the will. However, if they didn’t leave a will, things can become complicated very quickly. When there is no will to say who gets what, it can cause a lot of conflict within your family.

For most people, the law will step in and control who gets what. For members of the LGBTQ+ community, it’s not that simple. The intestacy laws in Texas don’t protect domestic partners. Nor do they protect children who weren’t legally adopted by your loved one prior to their death.

That’s why it’s a good idea to call a Texas LGBTQ+ probate lawyer. They can handle all of these issues for you. They’ll contact the court and open up an estate. They’ll send a Notice to Creditors per the requirements. They can even help you gather the assets of the estate and have them appraised.

Let an Experienced Probate Attorney in Corpus Christi Help

It’s important that you request a death certificate immediately after your loved one passes away. This may seem cold and callous. But it’s necessary. You can’t even collect life insurance without a death certificate. It’s also a good idea to get several of them since you’ll have to send them to multiple companies.

Some of the people you’ll need to send a copy to include:

• Major creditors such as mortgage companies, car finance companies, stock and bond companies, etc.
• The life insurance company
• Pension company
• Veterans administration

Your Corpus Christi probate attorney can make sure all of the right people get their copy of the death certificate. They will make sure all creditors are notified. They’ll make sure this is done before the deadline passes.

What Does a Probate Attorney Do?

You’ll need to check your local court’s rules about opening up an estate. Every county is a bit different. Our Corpus Christi LGBTQ+ probate attorneys will contact the Surrogate Court in the county where your loved one died. They’ll make sure you fill out the necessary forms to open up an estate. You don’t want to have to handle this on your own.

Once the estate is opened, your probate lawyer will have to figure out your loved one’s assets and debts. They need to find out what your partner owned. They also need to find out who they owed money to.

Some of the Estate Assets Include:

• Real property – This includes the place where your loved one lived. It may also include rental and vacation properties. It can even include things like a timeshare.
• Personal Property – The largest personal assets are usually vehicles. Your attorney will find out which cars are owned and which are still financed. Financed vehicles will have to be surrendered. You can’t sell or devise a car that still belongs to the bank.
• Other personal possessions – Depending on the situation, your loved one could have owned many other personal possessions. Of note would be valuable artwork, jewelry, antiques, etc.
• Bank accounts, cash, and stock certificates – It’s easy to find out how much someone had in the bank when they died. It can be a lot harder to figure out where they had their investments. Your probate lawyer can rely on financial professionals to help him do this.
• Heirlooms – Even more than money, a lot of family members fight over heirlooms. Things that carry sentimental value can be the hardest things to distribute.

Your lawyer will have plenty of time to figure out how much the estate is worth. As long as it’s done before the deadline, it will be okay. Texas gives you six (6) months to do this. Creditors won’t be able to file their claims until this period is over.

Let Your LGBTQ+ Probate Attorney Deal with the Creditors of the Estate

Once the creditors of the estate find out your loved one died, they’re going to crawl out of the woodwork. They’ll start calling you and asking if the debts are going to be paid. At this point, you may not even know how much the assets are worth. You don’t want to agree to pay anything until you know if there’s enough money to pay everyone. That’s why you should forward all of these letters and phone calls to your LGBTQ+ probate lawyer in Corpus Christi.

Many creditors will be willing to take less than the full amount owed. A lot of banks would rather get something rather than nothing. They know that another creditor could show up and eat up a good portion of the assets. They want to get their money as quickly as possible.

Most banks will outsource the collection of creditor’s claims. They don’t want to handle this internally. They’d rather have specialists handle this for them. These specialists are interested in settling their claims as quickly and for as much money as possible.

Our Corpus Christi LGBTQ+ probate attorneys will negotiate with creditors. They’ll add up the claims and see how much the total is. They will know how much the assets are worth. They will settle the claims for as little as possible. They’ll want as much money to go your loved one’s heirs as possible. That is what your partner would have wanted.

Most creditors will consider a settlement. They risk getting nothing if they wait for the claim to naturally close. By the time secured creditors are paid, there may be no money left. Secured creditors include the following:

• Mortgage companies
• Car finance companies
• Banks who own personal loans tied to collateral
• IRS tax liens
• Judgments and other liens

Contact an LGBTQ+ Probate Lawyer Today

If your partner dies, you’re going to be devastated. The last thing you’re going to want to deal with is their estate. That is why you should contact an experienced LGBTQ+ probate attorney as soon as possible. Let them deal with opening up the estate. They can deal with creditors on your behalf. They already know the rules in Texas when it comes to probate matters. This way, you can focus on grieving and taking care of your family.

The attorneys at Eddington Worley in Corpus Christi, Texas have decades of combined experience handling these cases. Call and schedule an appointment to sit down with one of our lawyers. You can ask any questions you may have. Take the following with you when you first meet:

• A copy of your loved one’s will
• Any bills or debt notices you’ve received
• A copy of the life insurance policy
• A copy of the death certificate
• Any information you have about major assets and debts

Your Corpus Christi LGBTQ+ probate attorneys will review all of the information you provide. They’ll have an idea of what your case may entail. If the estate is small, it may open and close within a few months. If the assets and debts are a bit more involved, it could take more than a year to settle your loved one’s estate.

Call and schedule your initial consultation today. Let a compassionate and skilled professional handle the probate process for you. It’s time you and your family focus on each other.