Probate is the process by the Probate Court to supervise and direct the administration of an estate. If you die with $150,000.00 or more of value in assets outside of a Trust, your estate will have to go through Probate. If you do not have a Will or Trust when you die, your estate will pass as described by the California Probate Code. Probate is a lengthy process, with attorney fees that are set by statute. This process may be avoided by creating a Revocable Trust.

Depending on the size and complexity of the estate, Probate may last nine months, to a year or more. The Executor of the estate will be responsible for hiring an attorney, petitioning the Court, taking inventory of assets, paying creditors and taxes, and distributing assets to beneficiaries.

Dealing with the Probate Court is an overwhelming process, and an attorney is needed to assist the Executor with administration of the Estate. At the Law Office of Tracie Martinez, we can assist the Executor with all of the steps required to administer the estate through the Probate Court.