Probate & Trust Administration

Probate: If you have been named executor (in some states known as a personal representative) of a will, or wish to serve as the administrator of an estate where there is no will, you have many fiduciary duties of which you may not be aware. Laboe & Tasker represents clients throughout the probate estate administration process. We help clients through what can initially seem like a daunting legal and financial process in probate court.

The executor/administrator is responsible for actions such as:

  • Gathering documents
  • Petitioning the probate court to serve as executor and filing the will
  • Notifying heirs and beneficiaries
  • Valuation of property and assets
  • Establishing an estate Tax Identification Number (TIN) and opening estate bank account
  • Paying the estate’s debts
  • Preparing federal and state estate and income tax returns
  • Preparing and filing decedent’s final income tax return
  • Distributing assets according to will or statute

If you have been named as executor of a will, or wish to administer an estate where there is no will, contact us to learn how we can help.

Trust: Laboe & Tasker, PLLC can assist you with carrying out your fiduciary duties as trustee of a trust or understanding your rights as beneficiary of a trust. . The trustee is tasked with properly managing trust assets, for the ultimate benefit of the beneficiaries. Laboe & Tasker works with the trustee to develop a plan to minimize the risks of liability while maximizing the distributions to the beneficiaries. The responsibilities of the trustee are similar to those of the executor of a probate estate, including:

  • Notifying beneficiaries of their rights
  • Valuation of property and assets
  • Establishing a trust Tax Identification Number (TIN) and opening trust bank account
  • Paying the debts and obligations of the trust and/or decedent
  • Preparing and filing trust estate and income tax returns
  • Preparing and filing decedent’s final income tax return
  • Distributing assets according to terms of the trust

We help corporate and individual trustees find the right solutions across a range of trust administration problems including:

  • Interpretation of trust terms and trustee responsibilities
  • Mediating family conflict related to trust administration
    Private settlement agreements to keep disputes with or between beneficiaries out of court
  • Declaratory judgment actions to clarify or define the trustee’s responsibilities on disputed issues
  • Seeking judicial intervention for unresolved conflict amongst beneficiaries or with trustee