legal costs with intestate?

[planman]

Okay, here's the scenario...
My grandmother dies without a will. She has about 15k in assets (mutual funds, bonds), but no house or other property. She is survived by two daughters who agree to split evenly whatever is left after expenses. One daughter is co-signed on checking account. Is it possible to:

1) distribute her assets without a lawyer?
2) distribute her assets without involving the courts?

If we do have to involve the courts, what kind of expenses are we facing? Also, I've read that not having a will means the family gets screwed by the IRS. Yes?


Thanks

 

[lwpat]

"1) distribute her assets without a lawyer?"

This is somethiong you should be able to handle without an attorney.

"2) distribute her assets without involving the courts?"

No. Someone will have to be appointed the executor of the estate in order to liquidate the bonds and mutual funds. This is a fairly simple procedure so you just need to visit the probate court and talk to one of the clerks.