Jennifer Haslip

While there is usually no legal requirement to use a probate lawyer, probate is a rather complicated procedure. One minor omission, one failure to send a relative a copy of the petition, or a missed deadline, can cause everything to come to a grinding halt or expose everyone to liability.

The death of a family member or friend sometimes tends to bring out the very worst in people. Experience shows that even in close families there is a tendency to get overly emotional about relatively trivial matters at the time of a loved one’s death, such as who gets the iron frying pan and who gets the kettle. Such minor matters or any delays or inconveniences can be upsetting, pose issues of fairness, and create unfounded suspicion among family members. As a result it is a very good idea to engage a lawyer to handle the process.