Skilled Guidance Throughout The Probate Process

There is no requirement to hire a probate lawyer. However, this is a complex area of law with little room for error. You may be tempted to save money by attending to probate without representation, but any mistakes or delays could end up costing you more than what you would have paid in attorney fees. For example, you may have difficulty finding a bond issuer for your trust that you are creating because most bond companies will not issue a bond to an unrepresented administrator.

Moreover, no one should have to shoulder such difficult responsibility alone while also trying to grieve a loss. Leave the legal work to us so that you can focus on yourself and your loved ones.

Typically, petitions need to be filed in the California county where the decedent resided at the time of their death. It may also be necessary to file an additional probate petition in another county or even another state if the decedent owned real estate there.

No, it is not mandatory in all cases. Often, if the estate was worth less than $184,500, probate may not be required. It can also be avoided in cases where steps were taken to pass assets outside of probate, such as through a revocable living trust, through payable-on-death accounts or assets with beneficiary designations.

As you might expect, the answers to these questions are always case-specific. Even under normal circumstances, probate can take eight months to twelve months. Any complicating factors will add time. We help clients throughout California resolve probate cases efficiently and quickly with our experienced team.

In general, costs will depend on the value of the estate and the complexity of probating it. There are guidelines governing probate fees for attorneys and executors in California, and we would be happy to discuss those during your initial consultation. We can also typically provide an accurate estimate of fees and costs at that time.

Often, trust lawsuits are centered on the actions, inaction or alleged misconduct of the trustee or trustees. Our attorneys have represented clients in matters related to:

• Incomplete or suspicious accounting and reporting of trust assets
• Breach of fiduciary duty on the part of the trustee
• Disputes that arise between co-trustees
• A Trustee fails to act and there is no one else designated as successor trustee
• Removing a trustee who has lost the confidence of the beneficiaries but refuses to resign

If your dispute can be resolved outside the courtroom, a settlement often saves time, money and stress for all involved. This is the first avenue our attorneys will explore. If an agreement cannot be reached, however, we are fully prepared to vigorously represent your interests in the courtroom.