Probate Processes

Kemp and Associates is a Utah-based heir-location firm. Using the genealogical resources available in that state, Kemp & Associates finds inheritors on behalf of probate court judges, attorneys, and other interested parties.
When a person dies, his or her estate often passes through probate. This process typically begins with the appointment of an executor or a public administrator. If the deceased left a will, this person may be named within it, though the court may designate someone in the absence of evidence of the deceased’s person’s wishes.
The executor is responsible for distributing all assets that do not transfer automatically at the time of death. Such probate-exempt items include joint-tenancy assets as well as accounts with named beneficiaries. Assets covered under a living trust are also excluded from probate.
To distribute any non-exempt assets, the executor must first contact any known heirs and creditors. A public announcement is required to notify any such persons who are unknown to the executor. The executor then calculates the amount of taxes and other debts due, payment of which comes directly from the estate. The remainder goes to those inheritors designated by the will or the law, and any issues of debate go to a probate judge for settling.
