Who pays for the cost of probate?

In West Virginia, the cost of probate is typically paid for by the estate. The estate assets are used to pay for the court costs, lawyers’ fees, and miscellaneous expenses associated with settling an estate. It is important to remember that any debts must be paid before the remainder of the estate is distributed to the beneficiaries. The probate process is overseen by a designated executor or administrator. This individual is responsible for locating the deceased’s assets and determining who should receive them. This involves filing legal documents with the court to prove that the deceased person was the rightful owner of the assets. The executor or administrator can hire a lawyer to assist with the process. They may also engage an accountant or tax specialist to help with the financial aspects of the process. In addition to the executor or administrator, the court can also appoint an appraiser to assess the value of the property. If the assets in the estate don’t cover the cost of probate, the executor or administrator may need to apply to the court for a fee or bond in order to cover the remaining costs. The court will consider any fee requests on a case-by-case basis, and will only approve the request if all other resources have been exhausted.

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