Orange County Probate Attorney
Probate & How It Affects Your Estate
Looking for a lawyer for a probate case in Orange County? If your estate is valued at more than $150,000.00 at the time of your death, your estate may have to be probated. This is the process by which the court determines to whom and where property and assets will be transferred as provided by the terms of a will or by the laws of intestacy if there is no will. Generally speaking, under intestacy statutes, property passes first to spouses and children, then grandchildren (and great-grandchildren) and then parents and lastly siblings.
Obviously, the greatest downside of dying without a will is that the state of California NOT YOU determines to whom your property will pass. In addition, if you have minor children, the court will not be informed regarding who YOU think the best choice is to act as guardian. Even if there is a will, the public forum will give disgruntled heirs a forum to fight the will. Moreover, for most estates, the probate process will end up costing your heirs a significantly greater amount of money than if you had done some simple planning. The good news is that a simple plan can be drafted that will take you out of the probate arena through use of a trust. An Orange County probate lawyer from my firm can help you with such a plan.
Why You Can Benefit From My Assistance
Searching for an attorney for a probate case in Orange County? I am Orange County estate planning attorney, Mary Finlay from Finlay Law Group, APC, and I have experience in assisting clients in preparing documentation that will avoid the probate process and ensure that their estate is distributed according to their desires. A trust can eliminate the need for a probate because all assets are passed through the private medium of a trust.
Probate Lawyer in Orange County, CA
Need a probate lawyer in Orange County? It is important for you to discuss your situation and desires with a skilled legal advisor in order to have an effective plan in place at your death. I offer a free case evaluation so that you may obtain legal advice at any time regarding your situation without any financial obligation or commitment on your part. In addition to this, I pride myself on the reasonable rates that I offer for my legal services. Contact my firm to seek my legal assistance today by calling (888) 896-9350!
Probate Resource Links
- Probate FAQ
- Nolo's Free Dictionary of Legal Terms
- Self-Help Probate Information
- California Probate Code
- Probate Court Services
- The Probate Process
- The Superior Court of California: Local Forms
- Rules of Court
Probate Articles & Information