Probate is the judicial process by which a decedent’s assets that are not otherwise distributed by beneficiary designations or through joint ownership are distributed. Probates come in all forms, and oftentimes, especially with smaller estates, probates can be avoided altogether. Our estate planning practice assists families through the probate process or one of its many alternatives, and we strive to make the process as seamless as possible during what can be considered an otherwise stressful time.