Estate Planning & Probate Specialists

Estate Planning & Probate Specialists

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Is Probate Best For You? Explore Your Options.

The Law Office of Sharon C. Stodghill is experienced helping our clients, both those with a defined estate plan in place and those whose loved ones left little or no direction to determine whether the probate process is the best option for resolution or if another option would be more cost-effective and time-saving.

Why Explore Alternatives?

The probate process is not necessarily an efficient one; particularly if there are significant assets involved, the process can be both lengthy and expensive. That is why the lawyers at the Law Office of Sharon C. Stodghill are here to analyze your unique situation, determine if there is any way we can save you time and money by using alternative methods and help you implement the solution designed to yield the best possible results.

What Are Some Alternatives To Probate?

It may be possible to avoid the probate process by carefully drafting a comprehensive estate plan, but oftentimes estate documents are not specific enough to automatically dodge it. Fortunately, there are also methods that can be employed after the death of a loved one that can achieve the same results. Some of these include:

  • Small estate affidavits
  • Transfer on death (TOD) accounts or joint accounts
  • Affidavits of heirship
  • Payable on death (POD) accounts
  • Revocable living trusts
  • Family settlement agreements
  • Joint ownership of property

In addition to helping you identify alternatives to probate (like the ones listed above or small state affidavits), our attorneys are here to assist you in the administration of a will to prevent personal liability.

Call us today at 713-464-6412 or contact us by e-mail for an initial consultation regarding the probate process. We offer sound legal advice and tailored service for clients in Houston.