Merrillville, Crown Point, Schererville, Munster, Dyer, St. John Estate Administration Lawyers

If you have been named the executor of another person’s estate, you should feel honored by the trust that has been placed in you. However, you should also be aware of the important responsibilities you have. To protect yourself, you should seek a lawyer’s advice about what is required of you under Indiana law.

At Laura L. Rybicki, LLC, in St. John, our Lake County Indiana estate planning attorneys advise executors in Lake County, Porter County and throughout northern Indiana. We also represent people whose loved one died without a will.

What Happens if My Family Member Died Without a Will?

If your family member died without a will or trust, the State of Indiana will determine how the deceased person’s assets will be distributed using our state’s law of intestacy. Your family will still need to go through the probate process and probate court will need to appoint an administrator.

Guiding You Through the Probate Process

Our lawyers will guide you through of the steps of the Indiana probate process, including:

  • Filing the will with the probate court (if there is a will)
  • Completing an inventory of the assets in the estate
  • Publishing required legal notices
  • Paying bills owed to creditors
  • Distributing assets to beneficiaries according to the instructions of the will or by other methods such as a transfer on death deed
  • Filing the Indiana inheritance tax return
  • Submitting a final accounting of the estate to the probate court

In addition to executors, our lawyers represent beneficiaries who want to be sure their interests are protected in the probate process.

Probate attorney Laura L. Rybicki has been a contributing author and speaker for the National Business Institute’s seminar entitled “The Probate Process from Start to Finish,” which addresses the estate administration process. She is also a member of the Probate, Trust & Real Property section of the Indiana State Bar Association.

For More Information About Probate

For more information or to schedule a free consultation with our Porter County and Lake County probate lawyers, call (219) 365-7766 or fill out the contact form on this website.