Probate

There are several reasons someone might decide to challenge whether a will is valid. The most common reasons are whether the will was properly signed, whether the person who made the will had the legal capacity to do so, and whether there is any suspicion that the person was unduly influenced or induced to create the will. In those situations, the will may be contested in probate court. Although these grounds may be challenging to prove in court, having to deal with these issues is something … [Read more...] about Can a “No Contest” Clause Help to Avoid Orange County Probate Litigation?

There are a few reasons that avoiding probate may be your goal for estate planning. It may be that the expected cost of the probate process is more than you want your family to incur after your death. It may be that you don’t want your family to wait years to receive their inheritances. Regardless of your reasons, avoiding probate is a decision you should discuss with your probate attorneys beforehand. Is Completely Avoiding Probate Actually Possible? A question clients often ask is whether it … [Read more...] about What Can I Do if Avoiding Probate is My Goal?

In California, probate proceedings are handled in the California Superior Courts.  The Los Angeles County Probate Court is a Court of General Jurisdiction that handles matters including but not limited to the following proceedings: Decedents' estates, Trust proceedings, Guardianship proceedings, Conservatorship proceedings, and Minor's compromises. During the probate process, there are many documents that must be filed with the court. Now, those documents must be filed electronically. Let our … [Read more...] about Los Angeles Probate Lawyers Explain Electronic Filing Requirement

The unfortunate reality is that will contests and trust disputes are quite common in probate. Despite everyone having the best intentions and to remain civil after the death of a family member, the likelihood that someone may contest a will is still pretty high. If a family member disagrees with how estate property is being distributed, the likely result is probate litigation.  That means someone who has an interest in the estate can bring their disagreement to the court to be resolved. A common … [Read more...] about How Long After a Will is Probated Can it Be Contested?

If you assume that everyone has a will, you would be wrong. Despite how common a will may be as an estate planning tool, not everyone has taken the time to create one before they pass away.  With a will, individuals are able to establish exactly how they want their estate to be distributed upon their death.  Without a will, however, an individual has no control over the distribution of their property.  Instead, their estate will be divided up according to the laws of intestate succession in … [Read more...] about Discussing Intestate Succession With Your Los Angeles probate attorney

A Long Beach probate lawyer can provide valuable assistance to probate administrators or executors through the entire probate process.  A Long Beach probate lawyer can be an invaluable resource, particularly because the laws in every state are different with regard to probate proceedings and any special requirements established by certain county probate courts. The estate administration process When someone passes away, the property which makes up that person's estate will be distributed to … [Read more...] about Why Do I Need a Long Beach Probate Lawyer?

As most people already know, probate refers to the court proceeding through which your property is transferred to your heirs after your death. There are several steps involved and they are typically the same in every court. If you are an Orange County resident, these proceedings will take place in the Orange County probate court. However, there may be additional proceedings required if your estate includes property located in another state. In those situations, Orange County probate ancillary … [Read more...] about Understanding Orange County Probate Ancillary Proceedings

Probate litigation can be the result of a will or trust contest or a petition for removal of a trustee. But in some cases, there is simply a dispute about legal ownership of personal property. Estate planning involves more than your money and your house. It also includes valuable personal property such as vehicles. There may be certain family heirlooms or antiques that should not be overlooked. If a certain piece of property is meant to be a gift during your lifetime, you need to make that … [Read more...] about Owner or Caretaker? Question Leads to Probate Litigation

The Orange County Probate court handles the legal process required after someone passes away in order to distribute their remaining estate to their heirs or beneficiaries.  The process typically involves proving the existence of a valid will if there is one, gathering and creating an inventory of the property included in that estate, appraising the property where necessary, paying debts and taxes, and finally distributing the remaining property appropriately. Orange County Probate Court In … [Read more...] about Orange County Probate Process From Beginning to End

When someone dies there is a legal process through which their estate must go in order for their property to be passed on to their heirs.  This process is known as probate.  It typically involves identifying the person's property and determining its value, paying off remaining debts and taxes owed, and finally distributing the property that is left to the heirs or beneficiaries.  But what happens when some of that property is located in another state?  That is when the "ancillary" probate … [Read more...] about In Which County Will My Estate Be Probated?