Santa Clarita, CA Office

The probate process is meant to ensure that a person’s estate is properly administered, and if there is a will, that it is properly followed. Without a will, when a petition for probate is filed, the court will appoint an administrator (usually from the family) and follow the state’s intestate succession rules. Intestate succession determines who inherits without a will. With the help of our probate attorneys in Santa Clarita, we are able to analyze who would inherit, and generally advise you on what to expect - how the process will play out.

Once an administrator is appointed for the estate, they must then administer the estate. This involves inventorying assets and addressing debts. Although there is a minimum duration for most cases of probate, to give creditors time to file a claim, some cases of probate take much longer than others. This could be due to complexities involved with certain assets, difficulties in the sale of real property, or difficulties with other heirs/family members.

Trusts are often touted as a superior way to handle an estate, as a trust can allow loved ones to avoid probate. But a trust is not necessarily needed to avoid probate court. Certain situations allow for probate alternatives and a decedent’s assets to be handled without probate. Our probate attorneys in Santa Clarita can help guide your family through the probate process as efficiently as possible. 

Whether you need to set up your own estate plan, or you’re dealing with a probate situation for a loved one, our probate attorneys in Santa Clarita can help you forge the right path for your family to follow.