Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co., L.P.A. (WWR) developed our probate recovery practice in 1992 in response to creditors' needs to address increasing losses resulting from the deaths of customers. This group assists creditors in the collection of debt owed by customers. We have developed a program that focuses on all issues and laws essential to attempting to maximize recoveries in these matters.

Our probate team assists creditors at various stages of the process, including identifying estates, filing claims and reopening estates that failed to properly pay our clients' claims. More than 75 team members, including attorneys, probate specialists and support staff, are trained in all aspects of collecting claims from estates. Among all members of our team, training ecompasses the laws of every state. This allows our staff to respond quickly to the demanding timeframes inherent in collecting from estates. WWR files claims in every court in the country and vigorously pursues rejected claims, engaging in litigation as appropriate for each situation.

On every file, the process includes an initial information-seeking letter and phone contact, which takes into account the delicate nature of deceased recoveries. We then search for an estate, file claims where appropriate and follow those claims through for the maximum payments. In those circumstances where there is no formal estate, we search public records for real estate ownership and take additional recovery steps when necessary after consultation with our clients. 

Probate Fraud

Fraud occurs when credit card accounts are found to have improper charges after the death of a cardholder. WWR's philosophy is to integrate the collection process into deceased account recovery. Through the useof our dialer system, family members of the deceased cardholder are contracted to obtain additional information on these accounts to be able to proceed in the recovery process. With the greatest degree of sensitivity, our probate specialists identify post-death charges, determine liability, and commence collection activity on an inadvertent authorized user or traditional fraudulent charges. WWR will utilize direct legal representation with the collection process, if necessary.

Date-of-death Notification

Understanding how important it is that creditors are promptly advised of their deceased customers, we offer a date-of-death notification service.  WWR examines accounts via an electronic file, reviews the material for dates of death and reports to the client those accounts and signers where a death has occured. We offer clients the flexibility of conducting the service at their desired frequency. Clients pay only for verified "hits." 

The following highlights the probate services that we offer.

• File claims to the estate
• Negotiate payments/settlements
• Asset/property ownership searches
• Pursue actions for disallowed claims
• Fraudulent transfers
• Credit card fraud after death
• Date-of-death notification