The lawyers at Gilbert McGloan Gillis take the time to ensure each client’s individual needs are met and that every will they prepare is tailor-made to suit the particular circumstances. They recognize that estate litigation can be very costly, time-consuming, and stressful and they endeavor to ensure documents are prepared with care to facilitate the administration of every estate in which they are involved.

You find yourself responsible for administering the estate of a friend or loved one. Perhaps you are named as an executor in the Will. Perhaps there is no Will but you find there is no one else willing or able to see that the deceased’s wishes are carried out. Perhaps you are, or think you may be, a beneficiary under the estate and want to ensure you receive fair treatment. You have so many questions that you don’t know where to start.

The modern reality is that estate administration can be highly complex. Estate administrators and executors face the possibility of litigation and personal liability if they act improperly in administering an estate, even if they think they are acting properly and in good faith. Call 506-634-3600 to book a free and confidential consultation at Gilbert McGloan Gillis to determine your legal needs. Our team can help with all aspects of estate law, including:

• Advising you on your rights and responsibilities as an executor or administrator of an estate;
• Applying for letters probate and letters of administration;
• Advising on beneficiaries’ rights and bequests under a Last Will and Testament;
• Handling creditors and debts of an estate;
• Administering the estate itself, from the initial reading of the Will to gathering and selling the estate assets to final passing of accounts;
• Setting up trusts and assisting trustees in navigating their role; and
• Estate litigation, including contesting or defending the validity of a Last Will and Testament.

PROBATE

You may have been told that you need “probate” by a bank or an insurance company. To obtain letters probate means that you will need to make an application to court in order to formally prove the validity of the Last Will and Testament and confirm your authority to administer the estate. A similar process, applying for letters of administration, is required where a person dies intestate (i.e. without a Will).

Our lawyers can help you determine whether it is necessary to probate the estate and can assist with all elements of the application process for fees fixed by provincial rules.