Orr & Reno assists our clients with all aspects of administering a decedent’s estate and trust following a client’s death, including gathering assets, paying debts and taxes, settling claims against the estate, and transferring property to named beneficiaries or heirs-at-law. This process addresses both probate assets, and non-probate assets such as assets owned by the decedent’s trust, jointly with another, or subject to a beneficiary designation. If assets are subject to probate administration, we will guide the executor through that process. The estate and trust administration process also includes compliance with federal and state income and estate tax laws.
Orr & Reno assists with all stages of estate and trust administration, including the following:
- Probate Court proceedings
- Advising executors/administrators and trustees
- Gathering assets and obtaining date of death appraisals
- Post-mortem estate planning techniques
- Distribution of retirement plan assets
- Distribution of life insurance and annuity contracts
- Re-Titling and transferring assets
- Establishing continuing trusts (e.g., family, marital and GST trusts)
- Preparation of the decedent’s final income tax returns
- Preparation of estate tax returns
- Preparation of fiduciary income tax returns for estates and trusts
- Resolution of tax matters, including audits
- Preparation of annual accounts and the distribution of assets
We understand that attending to legal and financial matters upon the death of a loved one must be handled with sensitivity and compassion.
