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People often think they need a probate lawyer to file probate. After all, the probate process requires filing many court documents and completing a variety of tasks over a 9 to 12-month period. Fortunately, probate is mostly paperwork and knowing how to move the case through the court process. So, although you may not need a probate lawyer, it is crucial to complete the paperwork and file the documents correctly. Hiring an experienced probate legal document assistant is a great way to avoid paying statutory fees to attorneys and save the estate thousands of dollars.

Recently, there has been an increase in online DIY services for California probate and estate planning. These services vary greatly in what services are offered. With this in mind, they all have the same theme - offering people a cheaper way to file probate for a fee that avoids paying statutory fees and is considerably cheaper than hiring a probate attorney.  Services provided by online probate services vary from platform to platform.  Here is an overview of things to look for when you compare online probate services.

Do you need to prepare a supplement to clear probate notes? Probate notes provide an overview of the matter set for hearing and highlight errors and deficiencies in the probate petition. Here is information you will need prepare a supplement to clear probate notes so the court can approve your upcoming probate hearing.

In a routine probate proceeding, the court will typically set the first probate hearing about six to eight weeks after the filing of the probate petition. Sometimes, there may be special circumstances where an administrator needs to be appointed immediately.  In this case, it is possible to ask the court for emergency Letters of Special Administration in Probate. These emergency Letters will give an individual temporary but immediate authority to act on behalf of the probate estate.

Not every asset that belongs to a deceased person becomes part of his or her estate. Not all estates must go through probate. Only some of the estates that go through probate involve complex issues that require the personal representative to hire a lawyer. In fact, hiring an attorney is usually a waste of money in uncomplicated probate cases. For most people, it makes better financial sense to hire a non-attorney professional to complete your probate forms correctly.

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).

Probate Examiners review all filed probate petitions before they are submitted to the judge. The court may reject the probate petition if not completed properly or is missing critical information. This article will explain what a supplement is and how to fix the probate calendar notes so the hearing can be approved.

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!

Sometimes, it is necessary to sell some of the decedent's assets during probate in order to pay the debts. Another reason to sell property during probate is because selling a property and dividing the proceeds among several heirs is much easier than having the heirs share the inherited asset. California’s Probate Code has different rules that govern how to sell property during probate. The difference is whether the court grants to personal representative limited authority or full authority.

The probate process in California starts after someone dies. Depending on the size of the estate, the process of probating an estate can be surprisingly quick and simple to complete. For larger estates, probate may be lengthy and more complex. Here's what you need to know to start the probate process in California.

California has specific laws and rules about the process required to deal with creditors and debts in California probate. It is the estate’s executor or appointed representative's responsibility to notify all creditors of the probate proceedings. This notification allows creditors to make and file formal claims against the probate estate. It is important to note that creditors and interested parties usually have a limited amount of time to file a claim.

There are five steps to open an estate bank account. 1) File Probate; 2) Get Letters Issued; 3) Apply for Tax ID Number (EIN); 4) Select the Bank; 5) Deposit Funds and Open Account. Opening an estate bank account is not difficult if you have the correct forms. It is a good idea to hire a registered legal document assistant to help you with the probate process so there will be no delays to be able to open an estate account during probate.

A People’s Choice has worked with many clients who own real estate in multiple states. This may include a second home, a vacation home or property rentals. Multiple properties usually do not have an adverse effect on the probate process; however, if a person passes away with property in more than one state, this often [...]