Will Administration
Will Administration
Administering an estate under a will involves admitting the document to probate, appointing the named personal representative, and carrying out the decedent’s wishes as expressed in the will while satisfying Missouri’s legal requirements. O’Gorman and Sandroni guide personal representatives through this process from the initial filing to final distribution.
Admitting the Will to Probate
The original will must be filed with the probate court, along with a petition to open the estate and appoint the personal representative named in the document, or another qualified person if none is named or available.
Carrying Out the Will's Terms
Once appointed, the personal representative must marshal assets, pay valid debts and taxes, and distribute the remaining property according to the will’s specific terms, all while keeping beneficiaries reasonably informed of the estate’s progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Missouri law allows a copy of a will to be admitted to probate in certain circumstances, but this requires additional proof and can be more complicated, so locating the original is always preferable.
Yes, an interested party generally has a limited window after a will is admitted to probate to file a formal will contest challenging its validity.
Since 1985 Sean O’Gorman and Andrew Sandroni have been representing clients in all areas of the law. O’Gorman & Sandroni, P.C. was founded in 1989 on the principles of honesty, integrity, and the aggressive pursuit of our client’s goals.