Firstly, any Rio Rancho cases with a legitimate contesting claim will not be eligible to be handled through the informal probate process at the Sandoval County Probate Court. Instead, the case must be handled through the District Court, likely in the Thirteenth Judicial District Court if the decedent resided in the Rio Rancho area. Secondly, know that probate is at its heart a step-by-step procedure. Each step must be resolved before proceeding to the next. Therefore, when there is a contesting claim, it must be resolved before the estate can begin to pay off creditors and other obligations before ultimately closing probate and distributing assets to heirs. When there is a probate contest in Rio Rancho, your case will be scheduled for a hearing where the claims will be made. Then, the judge presiding over the case may issue a ruling or order, or they may schedule additional hearings until all matters are resolved. Parties are encouraged during this time to engage in out-of-court negotiations in order to come to a settlement agreement that can reasonably satisfy lingering demands. Handling contested probate situations is often difficult, especially for an individual acting on their own. Obtaining the guidance and legal services of an experienced Rio Rancho contested probate lawyer can decrease the workload involved while also increasing the chances that the case will result in a satisfactory outcome for all parties.