Your Contact Information
Please provide some basic contact information. If you are not going to be a Petitioner in this case, that's OK. You'll have a chance to enter that information later.
Your Name*
Prefix First Middle Last
Your Email*
Your Telephone Number*
Ready to get started?*
- Yes, let me see how this works
- Ooops, I am not ready to proceed
Identify the Type of Probate Services You Need*
Please select the type of estate you need to probate, settle and/or administer:
- Full Probate for Estates over $166,250
- Heggstad Petition
- Spousal Property Petition
- Small Estate with Real Property Under $55,425
- Small Estate with Real Property Under $166,250
- Small Estate with Personal property Under $166,250
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- Yes please call me. I have questons before going forward.
- No thanks. I don't need a phone call and am just looking around.

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REQUIRED FIELDS: As you go through this interview, some field are REQUIRED to have content. This is to make sure that, if left empty, it was by purpose. Please enter N/A in any required field that would otherwise be blank.
Your Matter Number
If you have previously submitted this interview, paid for services and are now updating or corrected previously submitted data. please enter your A People's Choice 4 digit Matter Number here. You would have received your matter number via email. If this is a NEW submission, please leave this field BLANK.
Information about the Petitioner
The petitioner is simply the person that is starting the probate process. The petitioner is often the person(s) that will ultimately be responsible for the estate, but they don't have to be. Courts recommend that the petitioner be one of the following: surviving spouse, a child of the deceased, other next of kin, or a named executor (if there is a will).
- Check this box if you will be a Petitioner and want to copy over your previously entered personal contact information.
Number of Petitioners in this Case*
Who will be petitioning in this case? In a FULL probate case there is no need for more than one petitioner. The petitioner simply starts the process.
Number of Petitioners*
Please confirm the number of Petitioners in this case. Cases with more than one Petitioner will result in an adjustment to the base fee to cover the required additional paperwork.
Number of Small Estate Petitioners/Beneficiaries
In small estate proceedings, ALL BENEFICIARIES must co-petition together. Please state the number of beneficiaries that will be petitioners in this matter
Please enter a number from 1 to 20.
Petitioner Name*
Please provide full name, including a complete MIDDLE name. Only If you have no MIDDLE name, you should leave that field blank.
First Middle Last
Petitioner's relationship to the decedent*
Please identify the relationship of the petitioner to the decedent. This could be spouse, daughter, son, grandson, friend, niece, nephew, etc.
Petitioner is decedent's:
Petitioner's Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Petitioner's County of Residency (California or other State)*
Petitioner's Telephone Number*
Petitioner's Email Address*

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Confidential Information About Petitioner
Please provide the following information for the required Confidential Statement required by the Court. This information will not be public record but will be maintained by the court.
Petitioner's Date of Birth*
Petitioner's Driver's Lic. No.*
State of Issuance of License*
Is the Petitioner a US citizen?*
- Yes the Petitioner is a US citizen
- No the Petitioner is not a US citizen
What country is Petitioner's citizenship?*
Multiple Petitioners
You indicated above there will be more than one Petitioner in this matter. Otherwise, please enter the information below.
Petitioner information*
Please complete the following information for each co-Petitioner. Please provide full name, including a complete MIDDLE name. Only If a party has no MIDDLE name, you should leave that field blank. Enter N/A for any other required field for which there is no information.
Name of Petitioner Relationship to Decedent Address, City, State, Zip Date of Birth Driver's Lic. No. State of DL#

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The Case
HEGGSTAD PETITIONS: California Code, Probate Code § 17005 provides that the proper county for commencement of a proceeding pursuant to this division is either of the following:

(a) (1) In the case of a living trust, the county where the principal place of administration of the trust is located.

(2) In the case of a testamentary trust, either the county where the decedent's estate is administered or where the principal place of administration of the trust is located.

(b) If a living trust has no trustee, the proper county for commencement of a proceeding for appointing a trustee is the county where the trust property, or some portion of the trust property, is located.
County of Filing*
Please select the California county where this proceeding will be or is already filed. This is typically either 1) the California county where the decedent resided or 2) if the decedent did not reside in California, where the assets or real property are located.
Has probate been opened before for the deceased?*
- Yes probate has been opened before
- Probate has not been opened before
What is the case number for the previous probate?*
The court provides the case number number. It can be found in every court document pertaining to the case.
In what state was probate previously opened?*

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The Decedent
What is the legal name of the Decedent?*
Please provide full name as it appears on the decedent's Death Certificate, including a complete MIDDLE name. Only If the decedent has no MIDDLE name, you should leave that field blank.
First Middle Last Suffix
Was the deceased ACTIVELY known by another name or had title to assets in another name? (AKA)*
Also Known As (AKA) - some people are recognized both legally and commonly by another name, often their middle name or a nickname. Example: Sandy is often Sandra, and Richard is often Dick. Some people use their first initial and full middle name: T. Robert Jones.
- Yes the deceased ACTIVELY was known by other name(s)
- No the deceased was not known by other name(s)
Add the details of the first AKA and click + to add additional names*
What date was the deceased born?*
Month
Day
Year
In what City and State was the Decedent born?*

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Decedent's Residency
State of Primary Residency of Decedent*
The deceased's primary legal residence is the place where they lived 50% of the time, where their car was registered, where tax bills and bank statements were mailed to, the address on their ID (passport, driver's license) and voter registration.Please check one:
- Decedent was a resident of California
- Decedent was NOT a resident of California
Decedent's Primary Residence*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
County of Residency*
Please choose the decedent's county of residency (where they lived).
Decedent's Residency in County*
How many years did the decedent live in the county selected above?

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Decedent's Citizenship
Was the deceased a US citizen?*
- Yes the decedent was a US citizen
- No the decedent was not a US citizen
In what Country did the Deceased hold their citizenship?*

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Decedent's Death
What date did the deceased pass away?*
Provide the date of death (from the death certificate).
Month
Day
Year
City where decedent died*
State/Providence of death*
Country where decedent died*

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Personal Information About Decedent
Decedent's Social Security No.*
If unknown enter "000-00-0000"
Decedent's Driver's Lic. No.*
If unknown enter "unknown"
Was Decedent Receiving Medi-Cal?*
- No, Decedent was not receiving Medi-Cal
- Yes, Decedent was receiving Medi-Cal
- I do not know if Decedent was receiving Medi-Cal
Did the deceased have a will?*
- Yes the decedent has a will
- No the decedent did not have a will
Did the deceased have a Living Trust?*
- Yes the decedent has a Living Trust
- No the decedent did not have a Living Trust

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Decedent's Will
Was decedent's Will a handwritten Will or a typed Will?*
- Decedent's Will is written in decedent's own handwriting
- Decedent's Will is typed
- Decedent's Will is a statutory fill-in-the-blank form
Holographic Will*
Ok - so the decedent had a handwritten Will. In California, the court will need a copy of the handwritten Will as well as a TYPED VERSION of the handwritten will. Please TYPE the Will word-for-word in the space below.
Date will was signed by Decedent*
Month
Day
Year
Were there any witnesses to the signing of the Will?*
Check to see if the will was witnessed. The witness typically signs their name at the bottom of the will as the witness, and there is often an additional affidavit under penalty of perjury along with their signature.
- Yes the Will was witnessed
- No there were no witnesses that signed the decedent's Will
Wills and Codicils "self-proving"*
Is the Will and all codicils "self-proving?"

How to Know If a Will is Self-Proving: Attested Wills are signed by two disinterested witnesses, who attest that the Will was signed in their joint presence, at the request of the Testator, and declaring that the Testator was of sound mind. If the witnesses signed under penalty of perjury, the Will is self-proving and the Will can be admitted to probate without the testimony of any subscribing witness. This requires that all Wills admitted for probate be signed under penalty of perjury. However, if not, the attorney or the person petitioning to be the legal representative must have a Proof of Subscribing Witness signed. This requires contacting one of the witnesses and asking them to sign, now under penalty of perjury, that they did in fact witness the Testator’s signing of the Will. Additional fees may apply if will is not self-proving. An attested Will is "self-proving" if the attestation clause signed by the witnesses contains a statement that the witnesses are signing under penalty of perjury.
- Will and/or Codicils are "self-proving"
- Will and/or Codicils are NOT self-proving

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Amendments or Changes to Decedent's Will
Was this will amended by codicil(s)?*
A codicil is a small change, added to the will in an additional signed and witnessed document. The codicil simply changes a portion of the will without negating the will entirely.
- No the will was never amended
- Yes the will was amended
Add the details of the each Codicil. Click the + to add additional amendments*
Date of Amendment/Codicil Witnesses (yes or no)

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Named Executor in Will
Does the Will appoint an Executor?*
- Yes decedent's Will names an Executor
- No decedent's Will does NOT name an Executor
Is the Petitioner a named Executor in the Will?*
The executor is a person appointed by a person in their will to carry out the terms of the will. Often there will be a "first choice" and then an alternate choice.
- The Petitioner is named as decedent's FIRST CHOICE for Executor in the Will
- Petitioner is named in decedent's Will as an ALTERNATE Executor
- No the Petitioner is not named Executor in the Will

Please provide the following information regarding all Executors named in the Will*

EXACT Name as referenced in Will (please ALSO add aka if the name referenced in will is differnt from that party's current name	Street Address	City, State, Zip	Position (first named, alternate named, etc)

Executor of Estate Declines to Act*
Have any of the above-named individuals declined to act as Executor?
- Yes
- No
Please identify which named Executor has Declined to Act*

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Location of Original Will
Do you have the original signed will?*
- Yes I have the original will in my possession
- No I do not have the original will in my possession
Do you have a photocopy of the will?*
- Yes I have a photocopy of the will
- No I do not have a photocopy of the will
Is the ORIGINAL will in someone else's possession?*
- Yes the ORIGINAL will is in another person's possession
- The ORIGINAL will has been filed with the Court
- No, the ORIGINAL will has been lost
You have indicated that the ORIGINAL Will is lost. This may result in the decedent's estate being distributed under the laws of intestate succession.

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Personal Representative of Estate
When there is no executor or will, a personal representative of the estate will need to be appointed.
Personal Representative when there is no Will or Named Executor (check first option that applies)*
- The Proposed representative has been nominated by an executor who does not want to act as Executor
- The Proposed representative has been nominated by all heirs and/or beneficiaries

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Decedent's Living Trust
What Date did Decedent sign their Trust?*
What is the Complete Name of Decedent's Trust?*
All Trustees Named in Trust*
Please name ALL trustee's listed in decedent's Living Trust. This includes the original Trustees who created the trust and any designated co-trustees and/or alternate successor trustees. Click the + to make additional entries.
Name of Trustee (as identified in Trust) Designation in Trust (original trustee, first successor, 2nd successor, co-successor) X Check if deceased or enter N/A
Heggstad Petition
Acting Trustees
Please check all that apply
- All named successor trustee(s) are alive and willing to act
- A named successor trustee has declined to act
- A named successor trustee is deceased as marked above
Trust Administration Notification*
Probate Code Section 16061.7 requires notification be sent to to all beneficiaries. What date did the Successor Trustee provided this required notification?
Month
Day
Year
Trust Schedule*
Did the Trust have an itemized Trust Schedule?
- Yes the Trust did have an itemized Trust Schedule of assets
- No, the Trust did NOT have an itemized Trust Schedule of Assets
Contents of Trust Schedule*
Please type out the Trust Schedule exactly as it is set forth in the Trust
Assets*
Please check the types of assets that were inadvertently omitted from the decedent's Trust. Do NOT include any property titled in the trust.
- Real Property or Timeshare
- Notes Receivable
- Bank Accounts or Certificates of Deposit
- Retirements, Pensions, Annuities
- Stocks or Mutual Funds
- Bonds
- Life Insurance
- Motor Vehicles, Boats, Trailers
- Jewelry
- Artwork
- Firearms
- Business Interests
- Safe Deposit Box
- Other property

REAL PROPERTY*

You have indicated there is REAL PROPERTY or TIMESHARES. Please provide the following information for each piece of property omitted from decedent's trust. Click the + to add additional items. You must provide the COMPLETE mailing address for the lender/mortgage holder on the real property as some courts are now requiring the lender to receive formal Notice of the Petition.

% Interest	Date Purchased	Street Address of property	City, State, Zip of Property	Assessor's Parcel Number	Personal residence of Decedent? Yes/No	Gross Market Value	Raw Land or Type of Property	Name and Complete Mailing address of Bank/Lender

NOTES RECEIVABLE*
You have indicated there are NOTES RECEIVABLE omitted from decedent's trust. Please provide the following information for each Note. Click the + to add additional items.
Date Executed Borrower Original Loan Amount Monthly Loan Payment Interest Rate Current Balance on Loan Maturity Date Security (if any)
BANK ACCOUNTS & CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSITS*
You have indicated there are BANK ACCOUNTS, OR CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSITS omitted from decedent's trust. Please provide the following information for each Account. Click the + to add additional items.
Financial Institution Branch Address Account Type Account No. Date Opened Name on Account Balance at Death Interest at Death
RETIREMENT, PENSIONS, ANNUITIES*
You have indicated there are RETIREMENT, PENSIONS OR ANNUITIES omitted from decedent's trust. Please provide the following information for each Account. Click the + to add additional items.
Name of Company Account Type Account No. Date Acct. Opened Type of Benefit Value at Death
STOCKS AND MUTUAL FUNDS*
You have indicated there are STOCKS or MUTUAL FUNDS omitted from decedent's trust. Please provide the following information for each account. Click the + to add additional items.
Type (common, etc) Name Shares Date Purchased CUSIP / ticker symbol
BONDS*
You have indicated there are BONDS omitted from decedent's trust. Please provide the following information for each Bond. Click the + to add additional items.
Type Face Amount or Par Val. Series Issue Date CUSIP No. Maturity Date
LIFE INSURANCE*
You have indicated there is LIFE INSURANCE omitted from decedent's trust. Please provide the following information for each policy. Click the + to add additional items.
Insurance Co. Insured Policy Amount Policy No. Date Established
VEHICLES, BOATS, TRAILERS, MOTORCYCLES*
You have indicated there are VEHICLES, BOATS, TRAILERS or MOTORCYCLES omitted from decedent's trust. Please provide the following information for each asset. Click the + to add additional items.
Year Make Model Lic. No. Vin # Mileage Date Purchased Condition
JEWELRY*
You have indicated there is JEWELRY omitted from decedent's trust. Please provide the following information for each item of substantial value. Click the + to add additional items.
Detailed description of Item
ARTWORK*
You have indicated there is ARTWORK omitted from decedent's trust. Please provide the following information for each item of substantial value. Click the + to add additional items.
Name of Work Artist Year Date Purchased
FIREARMS*
You have indicated there are FIREARMS omitted from decedent's trust. Please provide the following information for each item. Click the + to add additional items.
Make Model Caliber or Gauge Serial No. Condition Date Purchased
BUSINESS INTERESTS*
You have indicated there are BUSINESS INTERESTS omitted from decedent's trust. Please provide the following information for each Business interest. Click the + to add additional items.
% Interest Type of Entity (partnership etc) Type of Business Name of Business Date Established Address
SAFE DEPOSIT BOX*
You have indicated there is a SAFE DEPOSIT BOX. Please provide the following information regarding each safe deposit box. Click the + to add additional items.
Name of Bank Address Contents Date Opened
OTHER ITEMS*
You have indicated there is OTHER PROPERTY. Please provide the following information regarding ALL OTHER PROPERTY. Click the + to add additional items.
Description Condition Date Purchased Other Details
Intent of decedent re omitted property*
Please check applicable:
- The omitted property is specifically identified and listed in the Trust Schedules
- The omitted property is NOT listed in the Trust Schedules
Refinance of Real Property*
Was the property taken out of the trust due to a refinance?
- Yes, the property was taken out of the trust due to a refinance
- No the property was never in the trust
Information about Refinance*
Please explain when the property was refinanced, the date of loan and the amount of loan and any other important details regarding this transaction.
Health of Trustee/Decedent*
Was there a health reason that prevented the trustee from putting the omitted assets into the trust?
- Yes there was a health reason that prevented the trustee from putting the omitted assets into the trust
- No there was not a health reason that prevented the trustee from putting the omitted assets into the trust
Please explain heath issues*
Please provide specific detail as to how decedent's health prevented them from taking the necessary action to put their assets into the trust.
Basis of Heggstad Petition*
Please provide in detail additional facts and circumstances that would support the court approving your Heggstad Petition. Specifically, describe why the decedent was prevented or precluded from actually transferring the omitted property into their trust.

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It seems the Decedent had a surviving spouse but no children. Please tell us about other relatives who survived the decedent.*
Check the FIRST item that applies.
- Decedent's parent or parents are living
- Decedent has living brothers or sisters
It seems the Decedent had NO surviving spouse, registered domestic partner or children. We need to know who the Decedent was survived by:*
Please check only the FIRST item that applies.
- Decedent's parent or parents
- Children of Decedent's deceased parent(s)
- Decedent's Grandparent or grandparents
- Children of Decedent's grandparent or grandparents
- Children of a predeceased spouse
- Other next of kin
- Parents of a predeceased spouse or Children of those parents, if both are predeceased
HEIRS/BENEFICIARIES: Details about Decedent's Surviving Relatives Above*
Please provide the details about decedent's relatives (living or not) based on your answer above. Click the + to add additional individuals. You MUST include information pertaining to ALL of living or predeceased individuals mentioned in the list above, including any variations of the spelling of their name(s). List should include parents (and/or predeceased parents, siblings (and/or predeceased siblings), other heirs (and/or predeceased other heirs). Please include date of death for any deceased party.
Full Name (first, middle, last) Relationship to Decedent Age If Minor, Date of Birth Compete Resdence Address (street address, city, state, zip) or Date of Death (if deceased)
Please provide the following additional information regarding the decedent's pre-deceased spouse*
Please check one of the following:
- Decedent's spouse died not more than 15 years before decedent and owned real propery that passed to decedent
- Decedent's spouse died not more than 5 years before decedent and owned personal property valued at $10,000 or more that passed to decedent
- None of the above applies
Please provide further details:*
Please check only the FIRST item that applies.
- Decedent was survived by issue of a predeceased spouse
- Decedent was survived by a parent or parents of the predeceased spouse
- Decedent was survived by issue of a parent of the predeceased spouse
- Decedent was survived by next of kin of the decedent
- Decedent was survived by next of kin of the predeceased spouse
Are there any non-family members named in the will?*
- Yes there are non-family members named in the will
- No there are no other people named in the will
HEIRS/BENEFICIARIES: Details of Non-Family members named in Will*
Please provide the following details for each non-family member named in decedent's will, including any variations of the spelling of their name(s) in the Will.
Full Name (first, middle, last) Date of Birth Street Address City, State, Zip Age Living or Deceased? Date of Death (if applicable)
Explanation of Surviving Succession to Decedent's Estate*
In view of your answers above, please provide a detailed outline of the decedent's family tree and how you determined the decedent's heirs (next of kin).
Review of Interested Parties*
All interested parties MUST be listed in the probate petition. This includes information about a pre-deceased spouse (if the decedent was married), information about all heirs and beneficiaries including any deceased children of the decedent, and information about ANYONE named in a decedent's will and/or trust, including any akas or different spelling variations of names of beneficiaries or heirs. Please double check to make sure ALL INFORMATION has been provided regarding any potential interested party and click the box below to confirm. Failure to provide the necessary information could result in a reprocessing fee. (too much information is better than not enough.)
- I have confirmed that all interested parties have been listed.
Spouse's or Domestic Partner's Information
Spouse's Name*
Age of Spouse*
Domestic Partner's Name*
Late Spouse's Name*
Spouse's Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Domestic Partner's Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Quick Start Probate Interview APeoplesChoice.com / ProbateByMe.com

Your Contact Information

We see you aren't ready to tackle our quick and easy interview. That's OK.

If you have questions before you start, give us a call at 800-747-2780.

You can also enter your email, then hit the Save and Continue Later button at the bottom of your screen and someone will reach out to you to answer your questions.

REQUIRED FIELDS: As you go through this interview, some field are REQUIRED to have content. This is to make sure that, if left empty, it was by purpose. Please enter N/A in any required field that would otherwise be blank.

Information about the Petitioner

Confidential Information About Petitioner

Multiple Petitioners

The Case

The Decedent

Decedent's Residency

Decedent's Citizenship

Decedent's Death

Personal Information About Decedent

Decedent's Will

Amendments or Changes to Decedent's Will

Named Executor in Will

Location of Original Will

Personal Representative of Estate

Decedent's Living Trust

Heggstad Petition

Special Circumstances

Heirs and Devisees

Spouse's or Domestic Partner's Information

Name of Petitioner	Relationship to Decedent	Address, City, State, Zip	Date of Birth	Driver's Lic. No.	State of DL#

Date of Amendment/Codicil	Witnesses (yes or no)

Name of Trustee (as identified in Trust)	Designation in Trust (original trustee, first successor, 2nd successor, co-successor)	X Check if deceased or enter N/A

Date Executed	Borrower	Original Loan Amount	Monthly Loan Payment	Interest Rate	Current Balance on Loan	Maturity Date	Security (if any)