Probate Attorney in Fremont

Our Probate Lawyer Makes the Process as Simple as Possible

Probate is the legal process of administering a person's estate after they have passed away. It involves a variety of steps, including proving in court that a deceased person's will is valid, identifying and taking inventory of the deceased person's property, having the property appraised, paying debts and taxes, and then distributing the remaining property as the will (or the state, if there is no will) dictates.

The Law Offices of Adam Allen Arant understands how challenging the probate process can be. It can take quite a while, making a family go through legal difficulties when they are already grieving. Our team is committed to providing compassionate, personalized legal guidance during this trying time. We have helped countless clients deal with probate. Our team knows how to navigate the process, and we can help you understand your options every step of the way.

If you need help with probate in Fremont or the nearby areas, call our team at (888) 561-2002 for free consultation.

What Is the Probate Process in California?

The probate process can vary depending on your circumstances.

Generally, however, it follows these steps:

1. File a Petition with the Court
   Your petition must go to the appropriate California probate court, depending on various residency requirements. We can help you decide where to go.
2. Notify Interested Parties
   After the petition is filed, the decedent's personal representative must notify all relevant parties. This list of people can include heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors.
3. Inventory and Appraise the Estate
   The personal representative must then take an inventory of the decedent's property and have it appraised.
4. Pay the Decedent's Debts and Taxes
   The personal representative must notify the decedent's creditors and pay outstanding debts and taxes.
5. Distribute the Remaining Property
   Finally, the personal representative can distribute the remaining property to the decedent's beneficiaries or heirs.

The probate process typically takes around nine months to complete, but it can take longer for larger estates or more complex cases.

Probate can be expensive and time-consuming, but there are ways to avoid it. Speak with our team about your situation, and we can help you explore your available options.

Do All Estates Have to Go Through Probate?

Not all estates must go through the probate process. Whether or not an estate must do so depends on a variety of factors, including the value of the estate and whether or not the decedent had a living trust.

In California, estates that are valued at $166,250 or less do not need to go through probate. Instead, they can be transferred to the decedent's beneficiaries or heirs through a simplified process.

Additionally, if the decedent had a living trust, their assets could be transferred to their beneficiaries without going through probate. The trust dictates who the assets should go to, so a court does not need to be involved.

How Our Probate Lawyer Can Help

The probate process can be complex, and if you are not familiar with it, you can easily make costly mistakes.

We understand how to navigate the process, and we can help you with a variety of probate-related matters, including:

• Notifying all relevant parties
• Handling any outstanding debts
• Collecting the decedent's assets
• Resolving any disputes that arise
• Notifying the decedent's creditors
• Preparing and filing all necessary tax returns
• Obtaining appraisals for the decedent's property
• Creating and maintaining an inventory of the assets
• Completing and filing all necessary documents with the court
• Transferring the remaining assets to the decedent's beneficiaries or heirs

Our team will work with you to understand your situation and your goals. We are here to help you make informed decisions throughout probate.

Contact our team online to learn more about how our probate attorney in Fremont can help you. Initial consultations are free.