Cleveland Out-Of-State Personal Representative Attorneys
Few of us are prepared to deal with the death of a loved one. When a relative dies in a distant location, family members can feel even more helpless. Many do not know what to do or where to turn.
If your loved one died in northeast Ohio, you can turn to us. We are the attorneys of Russo, Rosalina & Co., LPA, a respected law firm that has been practicing in the Cleveland area since 1978. We are experienced in probate and estate administration and can advise you on all the legal issues that need to be addressed after a loved one has passed away.
Advising You Or Acting On Your Behalf
If you were named as the executor of a will or the trustee of a trust, we can explain how to fulfill your legal obligations. If you choose, you can waive your right to administer the trust or estate and have us do it for you.
We can act as your out-of-state personal representative in the probate process, performing such duties as:
- Finding and registering the will
- Opening the estate
- Inventorying and evaluating assets
- Paying final taxes and bills
- Retitling and distributing remaining assets to heirs according to the will
- Managing the sale of property at your direction
- Filing all necessary documentation with the probate court
- Resolving any will contests or trust disputes
What Is An Out-Of-State Personal Representative?
For both legal and practical reasons, it is ideal for a personal representative (executor) to be someone who lives in the same state as the decedent. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible. An aging parent may have grown children who all live in other states, for example.
As the term suggests, an out-of-state personal representative is someone who resides in another state but has been named as a personal representative of the estate or as a successor trustee (often in someone’s will or other estate planning documents). There are restrictions on who can serve, which we discuss in more detail below.
Can You Be Named A Personal Representative In Ohio If You Live Out Of State?
Ohio law does allow for the appointment of an out-of-state personal representative under certain circumstances. This person might also be called a “nonresident executor.” If you don’t live in Ohio, the person creating the estate plan can only appoint you as a nonresident executor if you meet one of the following conditions:
- You are related by blood, adoption or marriage
- You live in a state with laws allowing nonresident executors
If you are unsure whether you have the legal authority to act as an out-of-state personal representative in Ohio, our attorneys can answer your questions and help you understand your legal options.
What Are The Benefits Of Hiring A Cleveland Attorney To Serve As Your Out-Of-State Personal Representative?
There are numerous benefits to working with attorneys like ours, including:
Convenience and cost-savings: Executors are often asked to handle estate-related matters weekly or even daily for as long as it takes to settle the affairs of the state (which can take months or longer). Many of these tasks need to be done in person. By hiring our Cleveland attorneys, you could avoid or greatly minimize travel and time spent away from home and work. The costs of hiring an attorney could be offset by what you save in travel expenses.
Practical and legal help in one: In many cases, local executors consult estate and probate lawyers to guide them through these complex and time-consuming legal processes. By hiring trusted local attorneys like those at our firm to serve as an out-of-state representative, you centralize the legal and practical work of administering the estate.
Peace of mind: Being a personal representative often comes with a lot of stress and worry, which is especially difficult while you are trying to grieve the loss of a loved one. Our attorneys can take most of that stress off your shoulders, and you will feel confident in the knowledge that the estate is being administered efficiently and in accordance with all relevant laws and regulations.
Contact Us Today To Learn How We Can Help
If a family member in Ohio has died, but you live elsewhere, please use our online contact form or call to speak with one of the probate lawyers at Russo, Rosalina & Co., LPA. You can also call our Mayfield Heights office at 440-663-1535 or our Parma location at 440-847-8289. We offer professional and effective legal services that provide peace of mind.