Losing a loved one is a stressful situation to cope with in life, especially if causes conflict within a family. For example, if a deceased loved one leaves behind an estate for beneficiaries to take over, it can become complicated. Sometimes the beneficiaries are not satisfied with the portion of the estate that they are left with. The trustee over the estate can also find it difficult when it comes to distributing the assets. Take a look at the content below to learn how a probate attorney can make getting through such a situation easier for everyone who's involved.

1. Help the Trustee Locate Assets

Locating the assets of your deceased loved one will be the first step in the probate process. However, locating assets might be more complicated than it seems. The reason why is because it is possible that your deceased loved one accumulated assets in various cities and countries. An attorney comes in handy because he or she will know which steps should be taken to ensure that all of the assets are located. you can also count on the attorney to locate the assets in a timely manner so the probate process can move forward.

2. Assist with Settling Disputes Between Beneficiaries

Once the assets are found and it is known what was left to each beneficiary, it is the time in which conflicts sometimes arise. If one or more of the beneficiaries feels as though what they were left with was unfair, they might begin to question the validity of the estate plan. In such a situation, a probate attorney can represent the trustee in court to ensure that the plan is carried out as the deceased desired it to. If anything fraudulent happens to be found in the plan, the attorney will help to get everything situated. For instance, he or she can make suggestions in regards to how the estate should be handled to satisfy all of the beneficiaries.

3. Provide Guidance if Anything Must Be Sold

It is common for an estate plan to involve some of the assets being sold. The money from the assets is usually distributed to the beneficiaries, and can also be used to pay off the deceased debts that he or she left behind. An attorney can provide guidance in regards to setting up an estate sale. He or she will explain how you can keep track of what is sold during the sale, as well as how to prevent assets from being stolen during the process. An estate sale that isn't handled properly can complicate the probate process.