Unless an individual dies with a living trust or meets other specific criteria, their estate must go through probate after they pass away. The California probate process ensures that all of the estate’s debts are paid and that the assets are distributed to the proper beneficiaries and heirs. From start to finish, this process typically
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Selling properties in probate is a time-consuming process, but it’s an important task that helps families move on and prepare for the next stage of life. However, property in probate is prone to disputes, particularly if there’s an unclear will or multiple beneficiaries who want to lay claim to the house. A quiet title can
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While not the most complex in the country, the probate process in California can be both frustrating and long-winded for many concerned with finding the best possible way to pass on their wealth to the next generation. Luckily, there are multiple California probate alternatives that ease the process. Probate occurs when a person dies, and
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At its most basic, probate is the process by which a court determines that a last will and testament is legitimate and provable. Without a will present, the California probate process can also become a means by which to determine how an estate is best distributed. Yet while these two concepts seem quite simple, the
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It’s difficult to determine exactly how much of California’s population still seeks a divorce – while divorce rates have been plummeting across the country since the Great Recession began in 2008, couples do still continue to seek separation in cases where the differences in the relationship feel irreconcilable. In recent years, out of roughly 20,000,000
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There are very few circumstances where the idea of contesting a will elicits positive emotions. The image that is associated is usually one of strife, stress, and hurt. Not only is the focus being taken away from honoring the passing of a loved one, those who remain are often in the process of learning new,
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Many couples go about their married lives in peace, with the belief that all their assets are shared as equals. Other couples rest in the idea that they are aware of what belongs to whom in every respect and have made amicable agreements about future distribution of properties. In either of these situations, partners may
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It is estimated that less than half of all Americans have documents in place for directing how affairs are to be conducted following their death. Even though death is a certainty in life, many of us somehow manage to push the idea aside, and continue to act as though the event is forever far away. For some,
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The vast majority of estate planning is undertaken to avoid probate. Probate is the process by which the state determines a deceased person’s will to be either invalid or valid. In this system, the courts of a state take control of a deceased person’s property and oversees its distribution. In some states, a dedicated probate
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If you have inherited property in California, you may have encountered a Heggstad petition. While finding an error, omission, or oversight in a loved one’s estate planning can be upsetting, a properly filed Heggstad petition can avoid a lengthy probate process. Discussing the details of a Heggstad petition with your family and ensuring that they,
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