Estate Administration

The Estate Administration Practice Group assists our clients with the multitude of legal and financial duties that need to be addressed upon the death of an individual. We walk with our clients through the process of probating a decedent’s last will and testament, obtaining financial information about the estate assets for the preparation of state and federal estate tax returns, paying estate tax due, making distributions of probate and non-probate assets and funding trusts for estate beneficiaries.

McManus & Associates provide the most professional legal representation with the utmost care and attention during a sad and emotional time for surviving family members. Although the death of a loved one is a traumatic event, we strive to ease the stress and consternation that accompany any matter before the courts and tax authorities.

A typical estate administration will include the following tasks to be performed:

  • Prepare court paperwork including a probate petition and represent the client at the surrogate’s court to facilitate the receipt of executor and trustee letters providing the fiduciaries authority to act.
  • Marshal all asset information and obtain date of death statements for assets owned individually and jointly by the decedent.
  • Employ complex post mortem planning strategies to reduce estate tax.
  • Prepare and file required federal and state estate tax returns.
  • Coordinate distribution of probate and non-probate assets.
  • Provide consistent communication with estate fiduciaries including the executor and trustee as well as with estate beneficiaries.
  • Assist in the funding of testamentary and inter vivos trusts to maximize estate tax exemptions and provide asset protection to estate beneficiaries.
  • Prepare and file fiduciary income tax returns for the estate and trusts.
  • Provide legal counsel with respect to additional estate administration issues.