Estate Planning and Probate

An estate plan protects your legacy while preserving family harmony, easing administrative hassles, and reducing fees or other costs. Virtually all individuals and families benefit from an estate plan and Fontenot & Oyler has experience drafting the estate planning documents you may need, such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. If you have an existing estate plan, you should consider contacting us to have it reviewed and updated if you have had any of the following life changes:

• Change in marital status;
• Birth of child;
• Change in state of residence;
• Significant change in the value or character of your assets;
• Change in intended beneficiaries;
• Death of a beneficiary; or
• Death of a guardian, trustee, or personal representative.

Fontenot & Oyler can also help you and your family ensure your loved one’s final wishes are followed through the probate process. Probate is the procedure by which a decedent’s estate is overseen by a court, particularly in the distribution of assets to the decedent’s heirs, either by the terms of a testamentary document or under North Carolina law. In general, estate administration and probate matters include the collection of a decedent’s assets, the liquidation of any liabilities, and the distribution of property to the legal heirs. Whether the decedent passed away with or without a will, we will make sure that the laws of the state of North Carolina and the terms of any testamentary document are followed properly.