Wills and Probate
Probate follows what is typically a painful emotional loss. Attorney Brian E. Barreira has more than 30 years of experience in probate law and knows how to ease the stress of probate by guiding personal representatives (formerly known as executors) and beneficiaries through the complex process.
The Process of Probate
Most personal representatives have rarely if ever probated a will and know little about the process. Attorney Barreira can guide you through the complex probate process, including:
- Filing the will with the Massachusetts Probate Court.
- Locating beneficiaries.
- Developing the best strategy for fairly and expeditiously probating the estate.
- Finding and collecting assets.
- Transferring assets from the deceased to the estate.
- Closing the decedent’s bank accounts and opening estate bank accounts.
- Paying estate taxes.
- Valuing, managing, preserving and liquidating the estate.
- Hiring experts, when appropriate.
Valuing and Managing an Estate
Attorney Barreira assists personal representatives with the arduous process of collecting, managing, valuing, protecting and liquidating the assets of the estate. Valuing an estate means identifying all the assets—home, automobiles, jewelry, real estate, etc.—and determining what needs to be done with it all. When appropriate, the firm calls upon accountants, financial advisors, real estate agents, property managers and other professionals to assist with personal representative duties. He can access expert opinions about unique assets such as antiques, rare books, automobiles and other collectables for accurate valuation, management and possible sale.
Probate Disputes
Even in apparently straightforward estate cases, there are sometimes disputes between beneficiaries. Attorney Barreira’s professional courtroom presence can calm the emotionally charged process of probating a challenged will or disputed personal representative or judicial decision. When it is in the best interest of his client to preserve cordial familial relationships, he is adept at mediating these disputes. When necessary, he assertively defends his client’s beneficiary rights within the Massachusetts Probate Court system.
For more information on Wills and Probate, read the following blog posts:
What’s So Bad about Probate? | Massachusetts Estate Planning, Probate & Elder Law
Webinars
Check out our Webinars:
What is Probate, and Should You Try to Avoid It?
Intestacy: What Happens If You Die Without a Will in Massachusetts?
For any Probate related issues, please use the Contact Form below or call the office of Brian E. Barreira at 508-747-8282 to schedule a personal appointment and, if travel is a problem for you, he can conduct a Zoom meeting with you.
