Probate and Estate Administration

The death of a loved one is trying and stressful. There is no way to ease the pain of the loss, but we can help you through the decisions and legal issues that accompany a death.

At Gerten and Van Valkenburg, PA, our attorneys have navigated the probate court for over 50 years. We can help you during your time of need with knowledgeable, compassionate guidance. If you have been designated an executor or administrator of a will or trustee of a trust, or if your loved one died without a will, we stand ready to assist you to ensure that you avoid common mistakes made during this trying time. We are available to guide you through all metro county probate matters.

Probating a Minnesota Estate

Minnesota probate law can be complex and difficult for people who have never encountered it. Whether you are an executor or an administrator or a trustee, a helpful, seasoned attorney can aid you in executing your duties.

At Gerten and Van Valkenburg, PA, our attorneys know how to ensure that you meet all your probate court and tax filing deadlines. If there are estate taxes and final tax forms that need to be prepared, we can assist you with those filings. We look at creditor's claims made against the estate and make sure they are valid, as well as aiding in the collection of debts owed to the estate.

Often, a personal representative is named who lives outside Minnesota. Our attorneys are experienced in assisting out-of-state personal representatives in probating wills in our court system. If necessary, we can help you identify and locate heirs to an estate who may not be readily found.

Estate Administration

If an estate plan contains one or more trusts, a probate proceeding through the court system is not necessary. However, the plan must be put into effect, and that requires knowledge and experience with estate administration. Our firm is ready to provide estate administration services in order to execute the estate plan and trust in the manner in which it was prepared and intended by you.

Will and Trust Litigation

It is unfortunate, but there are often disputes about the validity of a will or the execution of a trust. Heirs will contest the contents of a will and executors stand accused of wrongdoing when probating an estate. Our estate attorneys have years of experience representing parties in court on either side of the litigation matter. We work hard to ensure that your interests will be represented to the utmost extent during negotiations and at trial.

If you are in need of an experienced, knowledgeable estate attorney, contact our offices. Our attorneys want to help you during your time of need.