We Are Your Legal Team

Our Attorneys Help Families In Estate Administration Matters

At Shay, Santee, Kelhart & Deschler LLC in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, we understand the complexities involved in estate and trust administration. We have in-depth knowledge of the estate administration process, which we use to help you achieve the best possible results effectively and with a minimum of stress.

We guide executors and trustees smoothly through the administrative process, which may or may not include probate, depending on your existing estate plan. Contact our Bethlehem estate administration attorneys to schedule a confidential consultation. Estate and trust administration can be much more complicated than they appear, involving many intersecting areas of law, including a variety of estate planning issues, as well as Pennsylvania property tax, death tax and relevant federal tax law. Our experienced estate administration and litigation attorneys offer guidance on the several rights and responsibilities of estate and trust administrators throughout the process.

Dealing With Probate And Contested Wills

Probate. Many people have heard of it, but few know what it is until they go through it. Probate is not the evil that some make it out to be. It is merely the court-supervised procedure in which your property is inventoried, your debts and inheritance taxes are paid and your property is distributed to your beneficiaries. Do not be misled by some practitioners who charge large sums to prepare a “living trust” for people who do not need one. Living trusts may avoid probate, but they do not reduce your administration costs or your inheritance and estate taxes.

Rather, it is important to have the representation of an attorney throughout the probate process who can quickly identify the underlying concerns involved in your unique circumstances, understand the interplay of implicated issues such as those that occur when a family-owned business is involved, and seek beneficial resolution of issues that may arise.

Things do not always go smoothly when administering an estate. Family disagreements can become heated, and many people need a lawyer’s help to resolve matters. At Shay, Santee, Kelhart & Deschler LLC, we can help you and your family resolve disputes related to contested wills. These disputes may be related to undue influence, lack of testamentary capacity or misuse of interests in property.

Please Don’t Hesitate To Contact Us

To contact us, call Shay, Santee, Kelhart & Deschler LLC in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, at 610-295-5328 or toll-free at 877-716-3631. You may also complete our online contact form to arrange a confidential consultation with an experienced Quakertown trust administration lawyer to discuss how to avoid probate. We can also assist with your estate planning needs.