Practice
Wills and estates
“Someone has died”
Wills, probate and the paperwork after a death, including estates where there was no will.
$400
A week for a will, six to nine months for probate
When to call
When someone has died and you are the one sorting things out. When there was no will. When you would like your own affairs in order: a will, a power of attorney, a plan for a house.
What I do first
After a death, I find out what there is and who is entitled to act, then tell you whether probate is needed at all. For a will, one meeting and a draft within a week.
What it usually takes
A simple will takes about a week. Probate for an ordinary estate takes six to nine months, most of it waiting for others; I tell you what I are waiting for and why.
Tell me what happened.
I will say where you stand.
The first call is free and takes about twenty minutes. Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 6 pm. If there is a deadline on a letter, say so first.