Probate in California - Fresno County Probate Lawyer
When a person living in Fresno County (or anywhere else in California) dies and leaves an estate
worth more than $100,000, that estate must go through probate. The process of probate is
designed to ensure that all taxes and debts owing by the deceased are paid, before the remaining
assets are distributed to the heirs of the will.
The length of time that probate takes usually depends on how large or complex the estate is.
Probate can take as little as 30 days, or can drag out to a year or more. In California, the average
probate procedure takes six to twelve months to be completed.
Fresno County probate attorney
In Fresno County, as in the rest of California, estates valued at $100,000 or more must be
probated. This amount includes any assets owned solely by the deceased—it does not, for
example, include any jointly-owned assets or assets held by a trust.
In addition to specifying how assets are distributed, a will also often names an executor, who is
responsible for ensuring that the requirements laid out in the will are followed. The executor has a
variety of duties to perform, including hiring a probate attorney to oversee the probate procedure.
Hiring a probate attorney is generally recommended because probate can be a very complex
process, particularly if the estate is a large one. In California, probate hearings are held in the
Superior Court of the county in which the decedent lived. Hiring a probate attorney familiar with
the Fresno County (which besides Fresno includes the cities of Clovis, Coalinga, Firebaugh,
Kingsburg, Reedley, Riverdale, San Joaquin, Sanger, Selma, and adjoining cities and towns)
rules, therefore, is the best way to proceed with the process of finalizing the terms of the will.
What does a Probate Attorney do?
A probate attorney can carry out many of the duties of the executor as they relate to the probate
process. The probate attorney begins by filing a petition for probate at the Superior Court. Once
probate hearings are assigned, the probate attorney will file all relevant documents, arranges for
inventory and appraisal of the estate, and assists in ensuring that any debts and taxes owing on
the estate are paid.
The Fresno County probate attorney will also attend hearings at the Superior Court. This point is
particularly important, as there are deadlines associated with each hearing that must be met if
probate is to be completed without any undue delay. Missing any hearing or making any mistakes
in filing documents or in any other detail can make probate take much longer than it needs to,
and for this reason, hiring an experienced probate attorney is the best solution for ensuring the
will’s instructions are carried out quickly.
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