HELPING FAMILIES THROUGH ESTATE PLANNING AND PROBATE FOR 48 YEARS
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
BOOK FREE APPOINTMENT TODAYPROBATE ATTORNEYS IN WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA
The law is old and complex. It is our job to navigate the law for you and present you with the most efficient path to a peaceful reprieve from legal fees, red tape, and courtrooms. At Werner Law Firm, our team of probate attorneys in Westlake Village, CA work diligently in representing our clients through trying times, especially in times of grieving and loss – when the furthest thing from anyone’s mind is the law and its implications for a family losing a loved one.
When we pass away, our belongings must be legally transferred to our heirs. How and when that occurs, however, is up to what a person has left behind, how they have left it behind, and California law. The legal process that sometimes is necessary after someone passes away is called the probate process, and it determines an individual’s assets and to whom they shall be distributed.
Even when a will is present, probate is used to prove that the will is legitimate and oversee its proper execution. For most families, this is a relatively painless yet potentially lengthy process. For others, it can be a painstaking ordeal, lasting over a year and costing a family much time and energy.
At Werner Law Firm, our team of probate attorneys in Westlake Village, CA are here to help families ensure that the probate process is as seamless and cost-efficient as can be. We realize that no one wants to be beset with the task of accounting for a decedent’s entrusted wealth right after they have passed away, and we understand better than most that the consequences of even the simplest error can have far-reaching and dire consequences. We pride ourselves in being precise, having attained a reputation for working in the field of California probate law for over four decades.
2625 Townsgate Rd #330,
Westlake Village, CA 91361
805-506-3099
ESTATE PLANNING AND PROBATE
For many clients, preserving one’s financial legacy is one part of the equation. Most people want to set things up to make things as easy as possible for their family, or their children. To help them to inherit and to avoid probate court. Others wish to ensure that their pets are taken care of by someone they designate, or through funds held in the living trust.
Others require that their special needs child is given the right care should they pass away, looking for ways to ensure their wealth is not misused. For many, there is the wish that their medical and financial wishes are to be respected should they be left alive, yet incapacitated.
A slow and painful probate process is generally a major concern. Fortunately, the probate process can be expedited with the right tools – but under most circumstances, if you can avoid probate, it is usually your best option.
At Werner Law Firm, our team of probate attorneys in Westlake Village help clients properly navigate the law and determine the best way to maximize their estate, minimizing the costs of distributing their wealth to their loved ones. While probate is sometimes necessary if documents are not set up by a loved one, it does not have to be an encumbering experience.
Larger, more complex estates can benefit from avoiding probate entirely (or at least limiting matters to a simplified probate process) through the creation of living trusts, beneficiary assignments, responsible gifting, and charitable donations. Smaller estates can make use of a provision in probate law allowing them to bypass much of the hassle of a larger probate process by opting for an expedited one.
TRUSTED PROBATE ATTORNEYS IN WESTLAKE VILLAGE
When the probate process begins, the bulk of the work lies in properly cataloguing, evaluating, and preparing the estate for distribution. When personal and real properties total in the millions, when a decedent’s assets are scattered across state lines, and when there are accounts to be settled and creditors to pay, the task of wrangling an estate can quickly become difficult. With bigger and more complex estates, the margin for error quickly grows.
Careful planning and experience in probate law allows us to help clients from all backgrounds effectively manage and minimize the problems surrounding probate, simplifying the process, expediting it where applicable, and eliminating unnecessary complexities. The probate process still takes around a year on average, yet without proper administration, it can take much longer. We work hard to help you secure the safest path to a successful outcome for you and your family.