Estate & Trust Administration

The Final Destination
“When all’s said and done, all roads lead to the same end. So it’s not so much which road you take, as how you take it.”
– Mark Twain

The peaceful culmination of a lifetime of challenges and successes comes at the moment we each reach our own final destination. As difficult as it is, death is the inevitable and final moment of life. However, careful and compassionate planning during lifetime can allow you to pass on the legacy you have built during your lifetime of hard work. In addition, through the plans you implement during your lifetime, you can assist your loved ones with their own life journey.

In the midst of dealing with the grief and pain from the loss of a loved one, there are often unsettled legal and financial matters that must be addressed. Simply knowing where to start is often a burden. Burke & Casserly, P.C., can provide guidance to family members, named Executors, and other concerned people on how to best start the process of addressing these often complex issues and to plan the orderly disposition of the estate assets.

Whether the recently deceased person left a small amount or a significant estate, whether there is a Last Will and Testament to be probated or a Trust to administer, Burke & Casserly, P.C. provides guidance, direction and counseling to handle the technical details of managing the decedent’s affairs, allowing the survivors to focus on the grieving process.

Our Estate and Trust Administration services include:

• Probate, and all related Surrogate’s Court procedures involved in having a Last Will and Testament accepted by the Surrogate’s Court, including obtaining Letters Testamentary
• Administration of an estate of someone passing away without a Last Will and Testament, called “Administration” in Surrogate’s Court, including obtaining Letters of Administration
• Comprehensive estate management, including filing all required Court papers, estate accountings, disbursement of estate proceeds to heirs, and final resolution of outstanding debts of the decedent
• Trust Administration for Decedent’s passing away after having created or funded a Trust of any type
• Preparation of federal and state estate tax returns, and final individual tax returns for the decedent
• Estate and Trust litigation, if necessary
• Representation of a beneficiary in a Will contest or a challenge to a Trust provision, including advocating for the beneficiary’s law rights and inheritance

Some of the documents often needed in this process include:

• Will
• Social Security card
• Insurance policies
• Loan and lease documents
• Birth certificate
• Stock certificates
• Brokerage account statements
• Bank statements
• Mortgage documents
• Deeds
• Retirement plan documents
• Employment contracts
• Partnership agreements
• Divorce agreements
• Funeral arrangements
• Death certificates
• Tax returns (4 years)
• Safe deposit box information

Frequently Asked Questions