Assets held within a Maryland estate at the time of a person’s death will likely be subject to state probate laws. An executor, beneficiary or another party may decide to hire an attorney to help represent the interests of the estate throughout the probate process.
Ask as many questions as you can during an initial consultation
During the initial consultation, you are encouraged to get as much information about a prospective attorney as possible. For instance, you should ask if this person primarily handles probate cases or if this is just one part of his or her practice. You should also learn more about how much a potential legal advocate might charge and when this person would need to be paid. Finally, it’s a good idea to learn more about how you might communicate with this person as the probate case progresses.
Does your attorney have prior experience with probate cases?
There is nothing inherently wrong with hiring an attorney who may be relatively new to the legal profession. However, hiring an experienced legal adviser may make it easier to settle a deceased loved one’s affairs in a timely manner. Furthermore, someone who has handled probate cases in the past may be able to help you resolve any legal challenges that arise in a favorable manner.
The estate executor has a number of duties that he or she is expected to fulfill throughout the probate process. These duties generally include handling legal claims made by creditors, beneficiaries or others. Hiring an outside party to assist with the handling of these claims may make it easier to settle a deceased person’s affairs in a timely and proper manner.