The Role of the Probate Court
If you use a last will as your primary asset transfer vehicle, you would name an executor in the document. This person would act as the estate administrator, and they would be required to admit the will to probate.
The probate court would provide supervision while the appropriate steps are taken to prepare the assets in the estate for ultimate distribution to the heirs. Intestacy is the term that is used to describe passing away with no estate planning documents at all, and the court supervises these cases as well.
When an incapacitated adult can no longer make sound decisions, and there are no documents in place to name representatives, the probate court could be petitioned to appoint a guardian. This court also handles child guardianship and adoption matters.
Rutland County Probate Court
The Probate Division of the Superior Court in Rutland County is the point of contact. It is located at 83 Center St. right in Rutland, and the phone number is 802-775-0114.
Vermont Probate Code
Most laypeople do not like to try to interpret “legalese,” but there are exceptions. You can get the facts about probate directly from the source if you take some time to read the relevant sections of the Vermont statutes (Title 14, Chapter 3). Actually, unlike a lot of laws, the updated statutes are not that difficult to understand.
Special Report
There are outstanding resources right here on this website that cover all different estate planning and elder law topics, including a few things about probate. Though probate provides certain protections for some interested parties, there are several reasons why many people choose to avoid it.
If you would like to delve into the subject further, you can learn a lot about the most common probate avoidance tool if you download our report on living trusts. There is absolutely no charge to obtain access, and in fact, you can download any of the other reports as well if you choose to do so.
Attend an Estate Planning Seminar
In addition to the written resources that you can find here, we like to get out into the community to provide learning opportunities in person. Our attorneys hold seminars at different locations in the area, so you will definitely be able to find a date that is ideal for you.
There is absolutely no admission charge of any kind, but we do ask that you register in advance so that we can reserve your seat. You can get all the details if you visit our seminar schedule page and click on the specific session that you would like to attend.
Schedule a Consultation Today!
Action is required if you are going through life without an estate plan, and this includes adults of all ages, not just senior citizens. You should also work with an attorney to make the appropriate updates if your estate plan has not been reviewed in years.
We would be more than glad to get to know you, gain an understanding of your objectives and your family dynamic, and explain your options to you. If you decide to go forward, we can custom craft an estate plan that ideally suits your needs.
You can set the wheels in motion right now if you give us a call at 802-879-7133. If you would prefer to reach out to us electronically, simply fill out the contact form that we have on this website.
