Helping Clients Get Through Probate Quickly and Easily

When a loved one dies, family members are often required to go through the probate process to ensure that estate administration occurs legally and fairly. Probate refers to the court overseeing the estate administration. Unfortunately, the process can be lengthy and complex. If conflicts arise during probate, the decedent’s loved ones may need the legal services of an estate planning attorney to resolve the matter. Such legal battles can eat away at the estate funds and damage family relationships.

If you are facing probate for a loved one who died, please consider speaking with our probate lawyers in Fresno, CA. We can help guide you through probate to minimize the time and money you spend at this challenging time. Our probate attorneys offer excellent legal representation for fair distribution according to the decedent’s final wishes. We also resolve legal matters, including validifying wills and trusts, to resolve conflicts quickly and easily.

If you are mourning a beloved friend or family member, the last thing you need to deal with is complicated legal proceedings. You can count on our law firm to stand by you through probate, probate litigation, family law matters, and other issues that may arise. Call 559-545-0383 today for help navigating probate in California.

What Happens During the Probate Legal Process?

During probate, a special court convenes to oversee the estate administration on behalf of the decedent. The executor, as named in the person’s will if they had one, is assigned the duty of carrying on the deceased person’s wishes. They also follow legally prescribed steps to distribute estate assets.

Some of the main steps of the probate process in Fresno include:

• Validifying the will and other important estate planning documents
• Appointing the executor, either by a judge or according to the decedent’s will
• Inventorying the estate
• Notifying creditors of the person’s death and paying off all debts using estate funds
• Filing and paying estate taxes
• Distributing remaining assets fairly among beneficiaries, either according to the decedent’s wishes or California law if the person died intestate

Who Is Required to Pass Through Probate in California?

Going through probate can be emotional and challenging at a time when you are already mourning the passing of a beloved friend or family member. Probate attorneys like those at our law firm may be able to identify ways to avoid probate. One of the best ways to prepare for the future is by creating an estate plan that helps your loved ones avoid probate altogether.

Another way individuals avoid probate is when the estate’s value comes in under the State’s minimum threshold. If the estate is small enough, it does not need to go through the expensive and time-consuming probate process. Contact a California attorney right away to learn more about estate administration and estate planning to protect your loved ones after you pass away.

How Can Estate Planning Help Me Avoid Probate?

One of the best steps you can take to avoid probate is to create an estate plan now that protects your assets from the probate courts. An estate plan that includes trusts can minimize the value of the holdings in your name, helping you come in under the threshold in California. With a minimal number of assets held in your name, you can help your loved ones avoid going through probate.

Our Fresno, California, attorneys are standing by to help prepare you for the future. We will explain your options and help you determine the best documents to include to make your estate planning as efficient as possible. We can also help navigate probate litigation to minimize costs and resolve conflicts.

Should You Hire Our Fresno Probate Attorney?

The probate lawyers at our practice have spent over 75 years serving clients and helping them make the best decisions for themselves and their families. We have the skills to help with estate planning needs, trust litigation, probate, and probate litigation. You can count on us for accurate legal counsel and confident legal representation.

Don’t take any chances using cheap online services or other attorneys who don’t fully understand California law. You have too much at stake to put your assets at risk. Call Tomassian, Pimentel & Shapazian for these and other critical legal matters. We offer a free consultation, so you have nothing to lose by contacting our legal team today. You can reach our trusted legal team by calling 559-545-0383.