Probate is a court process concerning the administration of a person’s estate after his or her passing. The main objective of probate is to collect the decedent’s assets, notify creditors, pay liabilities, and distribute remaining assets to the rightful heirs or devisees. Probate court acts as careful supervision of the processes that transfer property from the estate of the decedent to the beneficiaries. North Dakota law requires a probate when a deceased individual owned property in North Dakota.

The probate process can be quite lengthy and varies by state and by individual case. You may find different requirements, procedures, and documents needing to be gathered, so it is in your best interest to hire an attorney. The person administering the estate is required to do the following:

• Locate and control assets
• Identify and resolve any issues with creditors
• Pay necessary taxes
• Distribute assets according to decedent’s will
• Fully account for all your actions

In addition to helping with these matters, our office has experience in the following probate related topics:

• Personal representative appointment
• Intestate probates
• Testate probates
• Heirships
• Release of suspended oil and gas revenue
• Challenging actions of personal representatives
• Probate litigation
• Will disputes
• Tracing land and mineral ownership

To schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys, please call Johnson & Sundeen, LTD, in Watford City, North Dakota today at 701-444-2211 or email us at JSLO@dakotalawdogs.com.