Five Ways You Can Save Money on Probate

By Patricia Louise Nelson

Probate can seem overwhelming at first, but it is possible to go through the process in an efficient way that saves the estate money. Here are five ways:

Choose the right path: In Oregon, there are two ways to probate an estate: the small estate process and the full probate process. Be very sure a small estate will work for your situation before you head down that path. It will be more expensive to start with a small estate and then realize you need to start over with a full probate.

Seek legal advice: Although it may seem counterintuitive, hiring a good attorney from the beginning of your case will save you money in the long run, because an attorney will help you to choose and stay on the right legal path. This advice may seem self-serving, as we are of course, a law office, but we know from experience that fixing mistakes is always more expensive than avoiding them in the first place.

Stay organized: Keep all estate information in one organizational system, so you can easily look up information about heirs, devisees, assets, creditors, bank statements, etc.

Communicate and respond clearly: If your attorney requests something from you, read the request carefully and be sure to respond and cover every topic the attorney has asked you to address. Poor communication and repeated back and forth will cost you money and time.

Be on time: Probate cases involve many important deadlines with the court that you must be able to meet. Hiring a good attorney will help to make sure the estate is efficiently administered within the legal deadlines and with a minimum of delay and cost.

 Find out more at: https://www.twosprucelaw.com/videos/how-to-save-money-in-probate