02 / ESTATE SETTLEMENT
Probate and estate settlement, done correctly.
Whether you are a personal representative facing administration or a beneficiary navigating a contested estate, you need an attorney who has been on the other side. Years administering estates from the bank side — including a single estate exceeding $100 million — informs everything I do in this practice area.
$100M+
Largest single estate administered
100+
Estates settled
~15
Years in Missouri legal practice
WHY IT MATTERS
Estate settlement is never just paperwork.
Deadlines that matter
Probate has hard deadlines. Notice to creditors. Tax filings. Distributions. Missing any one of them can expose the personal representative personally. We track every deadline so you don’t have to.
Family dynamics under stress
Estate administration brings out the worst in some families. A neutral, experienced attorney managing the process keeps disputes from spiraling into litigation that drains the estate.
Complex asset tracing
Most estates have hidden complexity — accounts at multiple institutions, business interests, jointly held property, beneficiary designations. Missing assets gets discovered years later. We map the full picture first.
Tax exposure
Even non-taxable estates have filings. Final income tax. Fiduciary returns. Step-up basis calculations. Getting this right protects beneficiaries from IRS issues later.
THE BANK-SIDE PERSPECTIVE
I have administered estates that took years to untangle.
Most estate planning attorneys have drafted documents. Few have administered them. Before founding this firm, I spent years as an Estate Settlement Officer for Bank of America, administering taxable estates of all sizes — including a single estate valued at over $100 million.
That work means I know what assets banks track, what tax issues trip up administrations, how creditors actually behave, and what conversations with beneficiaries actually look like. I bring institutional rigor to small and large estates alike.
WHAT WE HANDLE
From straightforward to contested.
Every estate is different. We handle administrations across the full spectrum — small estates with simple distributions, multi-jurisdictional estates with complex tax issues, and contested matters that require litigation.
01
Personal Representative Representation
Full administration of probate estates. Securing letters, inventory, creditor notice, tax filings, distributions, court closure. We carry the entire process so you can grieve.
02
Trust Administration
Successor trustee representation. Drafting required notices. Preparing accountings. Coordinating distributions. We make sure you discharge fiduciary duties correctly.
03
Beneficiary Representation
When you’re a beneficiary and the administration isn’t going right, you need an attorney who understands what’s reasonable and what’s actionable. We tell you honestly which it is.
04
Will & Trust Contests
Challenges based on capacity, undue influence, fraud, or improper execution. We pursue and defend contests with realistic assessment of the cost-to-recovery calculus.
05
Out-of-State / Ancillary Probate
For Missouri residents who owned property in other states, or out-of-state residents who owned Missouri property. We coordinate the ancillary proceedings efficiently.
06
Tax-Significant Estates
Federal estate tax filings, generation-skipping transfer issues, basis calculations. We coordinate with your CPA and any specialized tax counsel.
HOW IT WORKS
A typical Missouri probate timeline.
Most estates take 9 to 18 months. Contested matters take longer. We will give you a realistic timeline at the initial consultation based on what we see.
1
Initial assessment
Free consultation. We review the will (if any), identify the type of administration required, and outline the realistic path and timeline forward.
2
Court filing
We open the probate estate and obtain Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration — typically 2 to 6 weeks depending on the Missouri county and complexity.
3
Administration
Asset gathering, inventory, creditor period, valuations, tax filings, ongoing communications with beneficiaries. Most estates run 6 to 18 months at this phase.
4
Closing
Final accounting, distributions to beneficiaries, court closure. You receive a clean estate file and discharge from the court.
WHY HAAKE LAW GROUP
Built around your situation, not our office hours.
Bank-side institutional experience
Having administered estates as a bank settlement officer, I know how financial institutions actually behave, what documentation they require, and how to move estates through their systems efficiently.
Realistic timelines and budgets
We give you a written estimate at engagement and update you when circumstances change. No surprise billing. No estate-draining fees on simple matters.
Direct attorney contact
You work with me directly. Not a paralegal pretending to be an attorney. Not an associate three years out of law school. The lawyer you hire is the lawyer doing your work.
Virtual administration when sensible
Many estate matters move faster handled virtually. We use modern tools for distance administration — particularly helpful for out-of-state beneficiaries and personal representatives.
MEET DEREK HAAKE
Real legal work. Modern delivery.
I have been a licensed Missouri attorney since September 27, 2011. Before law school, I spent more than a decade in telecommunications and technology — including leading the acquisition of Corning Cable Systems’ fiber optic monitoring division, and helping create Valor Telecom, which became part of Windstream Communications.
After law school, I spent years as an Estate Settlement Officer at Bank of America, administering taxable estates including a single estate exceeding $100 million in value. That experience — actually settling estates and working in technology before that — is what I bring to every matter today.
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
Outcomes for Missouri clients.
Testimonials section ready for your shortcode when you collect client testimonials. Edit this section to add the shortcode from your testimonials plugin.
COMMON QUESTIONS
What clients ask before they hire us.
Do all estates require probate?+
No. Assets held jointly with rights of survivorship, in valid beneficiary-designated accounts (life insurance, retirement accounts, payable-on-death), or in a properly funded revocable trust generally pass outside probate. Whether your loved one’s estate requires probate depends entirely on how their assets were held.
What if there is no will?+
Missouri has intestate succession statutes that determine distribution. We administer intestate estates the same as testate ones — the procedural process is largely the same, the heirs are just determined by statute instead of by will.
How long does Missouri probate take?+
Most estates run 9 to 18 months. Some smaller estates qualify for simplified procedures and close faster. Contested matters with litigation can run 2 to 4 years. We give you a realistic timeline at engagement.
Can we administer remotely?+
Often yes. Many estate matters are well-suited to virtual handling, especially for out-of-state personal representatives. We tell you honestly when in-person work is required.
What about disputes among family members?+
We can represent the personal representative OR a beneficiary, but generally not both — that’s a conflict. If a dispute is brewing, contact us early. Many disputes resolve through facilitated discussion before becoming litigation.
How are fees calculated?+
Most estate administration is billed hourly given the variability between matters. Some smaller estates can be handled on a flat fee. We provide a written estimate at engagement based on what we see in the initial consultation.
READY TO START?
Get help administering the estate.
Whether you’re a personal representative starting probate or a beneficiary navigating a contested matter, we’ll tell you honestly what to expect and what comes next.