What Happens In Probate Court?
When someone dies, certain legal steps must be taken to settle the estate. This is known as probate. During probate, a judge either validates the will of the deceased, or legally determines if they died without a will. Probate may also be referred to as estate administration.
Probate law is extremely complex. It requires detailed documents and long wait periods. To make matters more confusing, probate rules can vary depending on your county.
Our probate law firm specializes in assisting clients through probate. Our goal is to make the probate process run as smoothly as possible.
The probate law practice of Alice A. Salvo represents clients in Los Angeles through the process of probate. Probate is always easier with a trained, dedicated legal professional on your team.
Below, we’ll look to explore the probate and probate court process in more detail.
What Happens During Probate Court?
Probate court handles the property and debt of an individual who has passed. The duty of the probate court judge is to enforce probate law . This means ensuring the deceased individuals’ creditors are paid. The probate judge will ensure left over assets are distributed to the correct beneficiaries. Probate court can be a complicated and expensive legal process. Our probate law practice helps you:
- Determine the value of the estate
- Distribute assets to beneficiaries
- Settle any outstanding debts
Many people practice estate planning to help them avoid probate court altogether. Forming a trust is one common way to avoid the expense and stress of probate court. Assets, such as real estate, may be placed into a trust. Once in a trust, assets are no longer subject to probate.
For information on estate planning to avoid probate, contact our probate law practice. We can also help you through the process of probate and address any questions or concerns you may have along the way.
How Long Does Probate Take?
Generally, people try to avoid the California probate process. This is because it’s expensive and time-consuming. In fact, probate often takes a year or longer.
The process may be drawn out further if a relative or potential heir contests the court’s asset distribution. Note that the court, lawyers, assessors, and other related professionals all charge fees. These fees usually come out of the estate.
