Probate & Estate Administration
Dealing with the death of a loved one can be difficult. If you are an executor or personal representative, you have a lot more to deal with than your grief. At the Mullin Law Firm, we help our clients make sound decisions in stressful times. If you are facing the probate or estate administration of a loved one’s estate, contact the Mullin Law Firm to talk to a skilled and helpful legal team.
‘My Mother Just Passed Away. Now What Do I Do?’
No two estates are alike, and every family is unique. Before we move forward, our conscientious legal team has a few questions of their own.
- Who is the executor? This is the person in charge of administering the estate.
- Who are the survivors, heirs and other possible beneficiaries? Who is included in your “family”? How many members of the extended family need notice?
- What are the assets? Where are they located? What is their value? Will it be necessary to file a tax return? Does the estate tax law apply? If there is any real property, where is the deed?
- Will the estate need to be probated? Is there a possible alternative?
- Are there any estate planning documents? Did your loved one write a will, trust, conservatorship designation or other estate planning documents?
- Did the deceased own or run a business? If so, what business succession planning took place?
Probate is a court supervised process where the court determines the validity of a deceased person’s will and appoints a representative to administer the decedent’s estate. If your loved one died without a will, a probate is required if the estate consists of assets worth more than the statutory minimum. The probate process generally involves taking an inventory of all the estate assets, satisfying all the decedent’s outstanding debts and obligations and distributing the assets pursuant to the decedent’s wishes. When there is no will (intestate), the court will order distribution of the decedent’s assets in accordance with the California Probate Code.
Our lawyers handle every type of estate administration case. If you are the executor of your loved one’s will or the heir of someone who died without a will, we can guide you through the probate administration process. We work with you to create solutions that are as simple and as cost-effective as possible.
Resolving Your Probate Disputes
Our lawyers recognize what to do when estate disputes arise during the probate process. One party may want to contest the will or trust due to allegations of undue influence or breach of fiduciary duty. Our goal is to resolve these matters effectively, and as quickly as possible.
To schedule a consultation with an experienced California probate and estate administration attorney, call our Concord office at 925-852-6014, or send us a message online.