The most critical California probate information we can pass on to you is that it isn’t as stressful or expensive as you fear it might be. Even better news is that you might not need to go through probate at all. Fortunately, even if the estate requires full formal probate, you probably do not need a lawyer. Estates of modest value can settle without lawyers getting involved. Meanwhile, people who own valuable assets usually have the foresight to work with a financial planner or estate planning attorney in order to prevent the kinds of probate disputes that require the services of a probate lawyer. If you are the personal representative of a relative’s estate, you can save a lot of money by hiring a non-attorney legal document assistant for California probate.
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Where to Get California Probate Information
You can find all the California probate information you need on the website of the courts in your county. You might get overwhelmed when you see the amount of paperwork or read about the process of selling property that belongs to the estate. California probate can appear complicated if you do not know what you are doing. It is helpful to work with someone who has dealt with a lot of probate forms before, such as a professional legal document assistant.
Every estate is unique, but the probate of your family member’s case will probably include the following:
Presenting the deceased person’s will to the court
Publishing notices that the estate has been opened for probate
Paying debts owed by the deceased person
Filing tax returns for the estate
Selling real estate owned by the deceased person, so that the proceeds in cash can be divided among the heirs
Attending one or more hearings in court about the estate
Distributing assets to the beneficiaries named in the will
Does the Estate You are Representing Need to Go to Probate?
In general, the higher the value of the estate, the longer California probate will take. Several forms of simplified probate are available for estates of which the value is less than $166,250.
- If the deceased person owned real estate valued at less than $166,250, the heirs can petition the court to transfer the title of the real estate property to them without a full probate process. They can do this 40 days after the person’s death.
- If the deceased person owned real estate valued at less than $55,425, the heirs must wait six months before asking the court to transfer the title of the real estate to them. They can only do this if the deceased person’s debts and funeral expenses have been paid off.
- If the deceased person did not own real estate, and his or her property was worth no more than $166,250, the heirs can petition the court to transfer it to them 40 days after the person’s death.
Probate Requires Patience and Paperwork, but Not Lawyers
You can get your inheritance money, even without a lawyer. Probate is mostly a set of formalities, but they are more easily handled by professionals with legal knowledge. Contact A People’s Choice at 800-747-2780 to have a registered legal document assistant prepare the forms you need for probate or a simplified California probate alternative.
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