Guidance, clarity, and support when it matters most.
Estate administration involves settling a loved one’s affairs after death—a process that can feel overwhelming during an already difficult time. At Mathews Law, we guide executors, trustees, and families through estate administration with compassion, efficiency, and clear direction, so you are never left wondering what comes next.
Your First Step: Guidance Meeting with Attorney
The Guidance Meeting is designed for executors and trustees who need clear legal guidance before taking action.
This is not a free consultation or a sales call. It is an attorney-led legal review and strategy meeting focused on your specific estate and responsibilities.
What the Guidance Meeting Includes
During this process, Attorney Lisa Mathews will:
- Review the will and/or trust and any amendments provided
- Review the estate’s asset picture as currently known
- Analyze whether probate is required or whether alternatives may apply
- Identify who has legal authority to act on behalf of the estate or trust
- Flag potential issues, risks, or complications
- Provide clear guidance on immediate next steps
- Explain available options for ongoing legal support, if needed
Fee For Guidance Meeting with Attorney
$500 flat fee
Some clients use this session alone to confidently proceed on their own. Others continue working with our firm for ongoing support. Either option is entirely up to you.
What Is Estate Administration?
Estate administration is the legal process of gathering assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing property to heirs or beneficiaries after someone dies. The process varies depending on how the estate was structured and may include:
- Probate administration
- Trust administration
- Assistance with small estates
Our role is to reduce stress, minimize delays, and ensure the estate is handled correctly and in compliance with state law.
Probate Administration
Probate is the court-supervised process for administering an estate when assets pass through a will or when no trust is in place.
We assist personal representatives (executors) with:
- Opening and closing the probate estate
- Preparing and filing required court documents
- Identifying and valuing estate assets
- Coordinating payment of debts and expenses
- Guiding distributions to beneficiaries
- Navigating deadlines and court requirements
Our goal is to make the probate process as smooth and efficient as possible while minimizing unnecessary court involvement and confusion.
Trust Administration
When a loved one created a trust, estate administration often occurs outside of court—but that doesn’t mean it’s simple.
We assist successor trustees with:
- Interpreting and carrying out trust terms
- Identifying and retitling trust assets
- Coordinating tax reporting and required notices
- Managing distributions to beneficiaries
- Ensuring fiduciary duties are met
We provide practical, step-by-step guidance so trustees can administer the trust confidently and correctly.
Small Estate Assistance
Not all estates require full probate. In some cases, state law allows a more streamlined process.
We help determine whether a small estate procedure is available and assist with each step.
Who We Help
We work with:
- Executors and personal representatives
- Trustees and successor trustees
- Family members navigating next steps
- Individuals administering an estate for the first time
Many of our estate administration clients are also estate planning clients, but we are equally happy to assist families who are coming to us for the first time.
Why Choose Mathews Law?
- Clear Guidance – We explain the process in plain English
- Efficient Administration – Focused on minimizing delays and stress
- Compassionate Approach – We understand this is a difficult time
- Experience with Both Probate and Trusts – One firm for all scenarios
- Personal Attention – No high-volume, assembly-line approach
Start with a Conversation
If you’ve been named an executor or trustee—or you’re unsure what steps to take after a loved one’s death—we’re here to help.
Schedule a consultation to get clarity, direction, and support through the estate administration process.