Simply put, probate is a legal process for settling debts and distributing assets after a person passes away. There are many myths and misconceptions about the probate process, the most common of which we will dispel here.
If the decedent had a will, his or her estate won’t have to go through probate.
While a will allows you to choose the executor of your estate, name a guardian for your minor children, and convey your wishes about who receives your assets after you pass away, it does not allow your estate to avoid probate. As a matter of fact, part of the probate process involves determining the validity of a will.
The only way to avoid probate is to create a trust.
Trusts are powerful estate planning tools capable of helping you accomplish a wide range of planning goals, including probate avoidance. However, having a trust is not the only way your estate can avoid probate. Assets held in joint tenancy with rights of survivorship, payable on death accounts, and multiple party accounts with financial institutions can also avoid probate. But this is only the case if the other person actually survives you. If the person predeceases you or dies concurrently, these assets will go to probate.
It takes years to complete the probate process.
We’ve all heard stories about celebrities and wealthy families fighting over estate assets for years on end. And if you are expecting an inheritance, it can seem like years before probate is completed and you actually receive your inheritance. The truth is that while probate can be frustrating, time-consuming, and fraught with delays, the vast majority of estates are settled within a year and oftentimes require considerably less time than that. South Carolina also allows for what is known as a summary probate when an estate is small (below $25,000) and other conditions are met. Summary probates can be completed in a few months. Factors that influence the amount of time required to probate an estate include the number of beneficiaries, the size and complexity of the estate, disagreements between beneficiaries, will contests, the lack of a will, and situations where the decedent had a large number of creditors or debts.
It’s best to name the oldest child as Personal Representative of the estate.
A Personal Representative (called an executor in other states) is the individual who administers an estate during probate. You can name your personal representative in your will. (If there is no will, the court has the authority to select a person to administer the estate.) Although many people might want their oldest child to serve, doing so is not a requirement. In fact, it may not even be the wisest choice. Given the importance of the personal representative’s role and the numerous responsibilities involved in the probate process, you should put a great deal of thought into your selection.
The cost of probate is so high that there will be little left in the estate for beneficiaries.
While probate is thought to be expensive, it typically costs less you might think. The cost in South Carolina paid to the probate court as a “fee” is based on the value of the estate, and increases progressively. However, many of the same factors that influence how long probate takes also impact its cost, particularly the size and complexity of the estate and whether disputes arise between beneficiaries.
An experienced attorney can create a plan to help ensure your estate will not have to go through probate. If you are responsible for probating an estate, or think you will be soon, we can also guide you through every stage of the process.