Probate is the legal process by which a person’s assets are distributed after death. This process can often be lengthy and complex. The Atencio Law Office, P.C. can guide you through this process and ensure that all the legal steps are met. If the deceased left a Will, we can assist the family with ensuring the wishes of their loved one are carried out, debts are properly dealt with and the Estate properly settled. If the deceased did not leave a Will we can assist in determining who the representative of the Estate should be according to the laws of New Mexico, and carrying out all the necessary steps to ensure the Estate is legally distributed and settled.

It is possible that your loved one made arrangements for assets to be distributed without having to go through the probate process. As highly experienced Probate Attorneys, Atencio Law Office, P.C. can help you determine which assets are a part of the Estate and which have been handled through previous arrangements.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for disputes to occur regarding some aspect of a probate case. The validity of the Will may be questioned, there may be allegations of undue influence, disputes among the beneficiaries, accusations of misconduct, or the necessity to remove an executor if they have done something wrong. The Atencio Law Office, P.C. is experienced in dealing with all these litigation situations and is prepared to defend your interests.

It is becoming increasingly common to create a Living Trust which is administered by the Trustor until his death and then administered by a Trustee upon the passing of the Trustor. This is commonly done when a beneficiary is a minor or incapacitated person or the Trustor wants to have some control over the assets distributed to a beneficiary.

Atencio Law Office, P.C. is also prepared to assist with the administration of a Trust. Trusts can be intimidating and complicated and successor Trustees often find it necessary to rely on legal advice to help them understand and carry out the wishes of the Trustor.

For more information, see our Contact Us page or send us an email at hal@atenciolawpc.com.