HELPING FAMILILES THROUGH ESTATE PLANNING AND PROBATE FOR 48 YEARS
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BOOK FREE APPOINTMENT TODAYPROBATE LAWYERS
At Werner Law Firm, we have been helping clients through the challenging probate process for over 40 years. As Southern California probate lawyers, we deliver personalized, quality legal assistance in a wide range of trust and estate matters, including probate and trust administration. If you are dealing with the death of a loved one, you should not hesitate to schedule a meeting with us immediately. We can let you know what to expect, offer advice, and start helping to guide you through the process.
THE WERNER LAW FIRM DIFFERENCE
WHY CHOOSE OUR PROBATE LAWYERS?
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Our goal is to make your case as easy as possible for you. Hiring a probate lawyer can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. From the moment you contact our firm, through the final resolution of your case, the goal of our probate lawyers and our staff is to make the process easy and understandable. We cannot change the fact that probate is a long and complicated process, but through our Werner Law Firm Difference, we strive to go out of our way to keep you informed of your case through every step of the way. We are constantly refining our processes and procedures for a more streamlined and calm client experience.
Our goal is to have you feel like a burden was lifted from your shoulders, and that we made the whole process an easy one.
WHAT IS PROBATE?
Probate court addresses the assets of an individual’s estate when they pass away. It is a long and slow process, but can be a necessary one. One of the primary goals of estate planning (wills, trusts, etc.) is to avoid probate. Not only does the creation of such instruments save time for the next generation inheriting such assets, but the costs and attorneys fees associated with probate are better avoided where possible. However, there are certain situations where probate is unavoidable, and our firm is experienced, well-versed in probate procedures, and dedicated to making the process as smooth and quick as possible for our clients.
If a loved one passes away with a simple will naming you as a beneficiary, or if you are a family member and they had no will, then steps will need to be taken to address their assets. Such steps depend largely on the nature and value of their assets. If you have any questions regarding the steps you need to take, feel free to contact us for a free telephone consultation. We will listen to your situation and figure out what needs to be done moving forward. Werner Law Firm often fronts the costs associated with probate and that attorney’s fees are not collected until the close of the estate, so generally no out of pocket payments are necessary by our probate clients to retain us. Attorney’s fees are based on a statutory fee schedule that rises with the gross value of the estate.
The probate process, on average, takes about a year. We must petition the court to admit a will to probate, or if there is no will, to open the estate and appoint an administrator to represent the estate. Once an administrator or personal representative is appointed, that person then has the authority to act on behalf of the estate, communicate with banks and other financial institutions, and conduct any other business necessary to close the estate. What is generally the largest task within probate is the accounting, wherein the court needs to be presented with an accounting of any and all assets and debts within the estate, and ultimately what will be done with them.