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Probate in California can be a difficult process. It can branch out into various topics that can cause a lot more confusion than clarity. With so many different subsections of probate to process, let’s start one topic and break it down. Probate records. These are used in all states of the country to bring [...]

When a property owner dies, what happens to their property? In most cases, their estate must go through probate before the property can be transferred to any heirs. This leaves many surviving relatives wondering how to probate real estate in California. Real estate subject to probate must go through the probate process before it [...]

How Long Do You Have to File Probate After Death? If you know someone who has been through probate in California, you probably noticed it can take a while. But how long do you have to file probate after death? How long does this sometimes complicated process take? In some ways, this hinges on the personal [...]

Anyone who has experienced a death in the family has probably heard the mysterious term "family probate court” get thrown around. But what exactly does it mean? When a loved one passes away, they leave behind a lifetime of finances. Their final bills and debts must be settled, bank accounts closed, and property distributed. [...]

A death in the family can be very emotional. It’s a time of mourning and grief, but also cherishing memories and coming to terms with your loved one’s passing. It’s only natural that you might want to collect sentimental items from their home as soon as possible. Unfortunately, you can’t do that in California. [...]

If you are settling an estate through the probate process, most likely you will need a probate referee. The role of a probate referee is to appraise property in the estate.  A probate referee is a professional, usually an attorney, a certified public accountant, or a person with several years of professional experience in property [...]

Most people never face an emergency when going through the probate process. There are certain situations, however, that lead to probate emergencies and the need to file emergency probate. This special petition is known as a Petition for Letters of Special Administration. If the Petition is approved, the Court Clerk will issue Letters of Special Administration. Letters of Special Administration are temporary Letters of authority that can be approved by the Probate Judge for a specific purpose on an ex parte basis (without a hearing).

In California, attorneys charge statutory fees to probate an estate. However, statutory attorney fees in probate are avoidable. How do you avoid paying statutory fees when you file probate in California? First and foremost, consider hiring a legal document preparer to help you. At A People’s Choice, we have helped thousands of consumers just like you to complete a California probate for a fraction of the cost charged by lawyers!