Probate in California - Garden Grove Probate Lawyer
Probate is the process by which a deceased person's financial and legal affairs are finalized. In California, probate takes an average of six to twelve months to be completed, however it can be an extremely lengthy process that lasts several years if the estate is a large or complex one.
In Garden Grove, as in the rest of California, estates valued at $100,000 or more must go through probate. This calculation includes only assets that were owned solely by the deceased-it does not include any assets that were jointly owned or held in trust.
If the deceased lived in Garden Grove, probate proceedings will be held at the Garden Grove Superior Court. The executor of the will-the person named in the will for this role-is responsible for ensuring that probate is carried out. However, they can delegate much of the responsibility involved in probate to a probate attorney. For a decedent who lived in Garden Grove, therefore, a Garden Grove probate lawyer can handle much of the associated work. This is the best way of handling the situation, as probate can be a long and complicated process.
Do I need to contact a Garden Grove Probate Attorney?
The executor of a will must file documents relating to the will, including an appraised inventory of the deceased's estate. They must ensure that any debts and taxes owing on the estate are paid, and then distribute the remaining assets according to the wishes of the deceased as instructed in the will. These tasks alone can take up a large amount of time, and to ensure that probate is completed in a timely manner, it's particularly important that everything is done without errors and before the required deadlines. Missing even one deadline can mean the completion of probate is delayed by several months.
If the deceased lived in this area of California, hiring an experienced Garden Grove probate lawyer is the best way of ensuring that probate is completed as quickly and painlessly as possible. A probate lawyer will begin by filing a petition to begin the process, and will then attend or monitor several hearings at which the assets of the estate are examined, and any taxes or debts are calculated for payment. Once probate is completed, the probate lawyer's involvement ends, and the executor of the will is then free to distribute the assets of the will.
