Probate in California - Huntington Beach Probate Lawyer
Probate is a series of legal hearings that are designed to finalize a person's legal and financial affairs when they die. During probate, the size of the estate is calculated, debts and taxes are paid, and the remaining assets are distributed to the heirs. Probate can be a time-consuming process-an average estate takes between six and twelve months to go through probate in California, however proceedings of up to two or more years are possible.
In the state of California, any estate which includes assets collectively valued at more than $100,000 must go through probate before those assets can be distributed to the deceased's heirs. All assets which were owned solely by the deceased are included when calculating the value of the estate.
A person who makes a will often names a close friend or family member to act as executor of their estate. The executor is responsible for ensuring that probate is completed, and for managing the estate while probate is in process. There are several tasks associated with probate, which can become time-consuming, not to mention difficult; however an executor can delegate most of these to a probate lawyer.
Why do I need to contact a Huntington Beach Probate Attorney?
When a deceased person lived in Huntingdon Beach, their estate is probated through the Orange County Superior Court. It can be very difficult for a lay-person to manage a large estate while probate is in process, but a Huntington Beach probate lawyer can solve the problem of how to approach probate. The probate lawyer can take care of the following tasks:
1. Filing the petition to begin the probate process;
2. Filing any and all documents required for further probate hearings;
3. Arranging for the estate to be inventoried and appraised;
4. Arranging for debts and taxes owing to be calculated;
5. Attending all probate hearings, at which provision for payment of debts and taxes
6. Filing the petition to complete probate and release the assets of the will once all details are finalized
Once probate is completed, the executor can then distribute the assets of the estate to the heirs of the deceased. All of the processes involved in probate barring this last one must be completed according to a strict schedule. This is another important way in which a probate lawyer can be essential-any missed deadline delays the completion of probate by up to several months, and hiring a probate lawyer prevents delays from occurring.
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