It can seem almost cruel how, almost as soon as your loved one has passed away, you can become saddled with the legal and financial responsibility of managing their estate. Unfortunately, if you have been named as the executor of their estate, you may need to handle this substantial burden before you have even had a chance to grieve. But how exactly are you supposed to handle estate administration while you are still in mourning?
The Strain of Grief and Responsibility
Most people, when their loved ones pass away, tend to prefer to have time to mourn and deal with their grief. Unfortunately, many people do not get that chance, because the law demands that an appointed executor must handle the responsibility of administering the estate of the deceased. This means that, even if you feel utterly miserable at having lost a loved one, you still need to find a way to pick yourself up quickly and get things done, which can feel utterly impossible.
A Prolonged Period of Sorting Out Affairs
It would be one thing if the matters related to estate administration could be wrapped up quickly. Unfortunately, even when everything goes well, the probate process (where an estate is validated so it can be distributed according to the estate plan) can easily take the better part of a year. This means that the emotional struggles of mourning can be dragged out for months as the estate is probated, and that’s assuming no major issues arise (such as a challenge to the will, for example).
Giving Yourself the Space You Need
During this time, it is important not to get too wrapped up in the legal technicalities, because you need to remember your own emotional needs. You should make sure you take the time you need to mourn appropriately, to work through your grief and heal from your loss. The legal requirements of estate administration are important, but so is your state of mind, and you should not feel forced to sacrifice one for the other.
How We Can Help You
Fortunately, our lawyers understand just how difficult it can be to juggle all of these issues. That is why we take a holistic approach to assisting our clients with their estate law matters, helping to coach them through the probate process while they are dealing with the emotional devastation of losing their loved ones. This way, you can focus on what matters most, while we handle the legal side of things.
The estate law attorneys at David J. Lorber & Associates, PLLC will work with you to handle any legal matters that may arise during the process of probating an estate. For comprehensive estate law services in New York, call David J. Lorber & Associates, PLLC at (631) 750-0900 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation at our Setauket office.
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