Sanders Law Firm offers qualified assistance in helping individuals and families devise their estate plans. Established in 1945, our firm guides clients in New Mexico through the process of preparing:

• Trusts
• Wills and testaments
• Living wills
• Financial powers of attorney
• Medical powers of attorney
• Business succession and dissolution
• Appointing appropriate guardians

A typical estate planning package for a married couple involves wills for each spouse, a health care power of attorney for each, and a financial power of attorney for each. If necessary to, a living trust can also be included to protect a specific asset or interest.

In addition, our lawyers have extensive experience dealing with probate cases involving large taxable and complex estates. We can also represent you in disputes involving will contests, trust litigation and guardianship/conservatorship issues.

What Is Probate?

Probate is the process of submitting a will to the court to divide up and distribute a deceased individual’s estate. The term probate is also often used in reference to cases involving a determination of heirship where the decedent (the person who died) left no will. A person who has left no will is said to have died intestate.

What’s Involved In Probating A Will?

The first step in any probate action is to petition the court to appoint a personal representative of the estate. The personal representative is responsible for taking an inventory of the decedent’s assets and ultimately distributing them to the heirs and/or beneficiaries. The personal representative may have been named in the decedent’s will, or maybe someone interested in the settlement of the deceased person’s estate (often referred to, simply, as an interested person.)

Planning For The Future Is Important

These matters can quickly become complex. If procedural errors are made, it can end up costing families thousands of dollars to remedy. Likewise, if there is infighting among beneficiaries — a scenario that typically arises from inadequate estate planning — it can take years in court to sort out.

In every matter, we seek to help our clients resolve their concerns as quickly and simply as possible. We know how to establish estate plans that prevent future disputes, and how to help families reconcile when disagreement arises.

To learn more, reach out to our firm. You can call us at 575-622-5440 or contact us online.