Estate Administration

What to do after a death or during incapacity—and how we guide you through it.

When someone dies, the focus often shifts from planning to action. Documents that were carefully prepared now need to be used, deadlines appear, and family members are suddenly asked to make decisions while they are still grieving.

This phase is commonly called estate administration. Most people don’t use that term in everyday life, so here’s what it really means:

Estate administration is the legal and practical process of carrying out someone’s wishes after they die—making sure assets go where they are supposed to go, bills and taxes are handled, and legal requirements are met.

We help families navigate this process calmly, clearly, and with as little stress as possible.

How We Help After a Death

 
Depending on how the person’s estate plan was set up, helping you “use the plan” usually falls into one of two categories:

Probate (When there is a Will)

Probate is a court process that may be required when someone dies owning assets in their individual name.

Probate typically involves:

  • Filing the will with the court
  • Being officially appointed to act on behalf of the estate
  • Notifying beneficiaries and creditors
  • Collecting and managing estate assets
  • Paying valid debts and expenses
  • Distributing what remains according to the will

Typical legal fees: around $3,000, sometimes more or less depending on complexity
Estimated court costs and related fees: approximately $500

Probate can be straightforward or not depending on the situation.

Trust Administration (When Assets Are Held in a Trust)

If the deceased person had a trust, court involvement may be limited—or avoided entirely.

Trust administration generally includes:

  • Reviewing the trust and related documents
  • Confirming who is now serving as trustee
  • Identifying trust assets
  • Notifying beneficiaries
  • Carrying out distributions according to the trust’s terms

Cost: Based on what needs to be done

If the trust was properly maintained and funded over time, there may be very little legal work required. In other situations—especially when assets were never transferred into the trust—additional steps may be needed.

Our role is to help you understand what actually applies in your situation.

Our First Step: A Clear Starting Point

 
Whether probate or trust administration is required, we don’t jump straight into assumptions or one-size-fits-all pricing.

Initial Administration Review

The process typically begins with:

  • A short call to understand the situation
  • A $250 initial fee, which covers:
    • Opening the matter
    • Gathering key information from you
    • Reviewing the documents and current circumstances
    • Providing a professional opinion on:
      • Your available options
      • The pros and cons of each
      • Whether additional legal work is needed
      • The expected cost if further services are required

This gives you clarity before making any larger commitments.

Who We Currently Serve

 
At this time, we only handle estate administration matters for current or past clients.

This allows us to provide a higher level of care, familiarity, and continuity for the families we already serve.

If you are an existing client and a death has occurred, please reach out as soon as you are able—we will help you understand next steps.

Do You Need Help Using an Estate Plan We Created?


If so, the best next step is to schedule a short call so we can understand what’s going on and help you get oriented.

Schedule a Short Call

Our goal is to give you clarity, direction, and peace of mind during a difficult time.

Frequently Asked Questions