Whittier Probate Attorney

What Exactly is Probate?

Are you unsure of what probate is? Perhaps you are facing the loss of a loved one and dealing with the legal process as we speak? To get started, probate is the process of managing the assets of the deceased. The individual that passes away is known as the decedent. If they were to create a last will & testament before their time of death, they are said has having died "testate." On the other hand, a decedent dying "intestate" implies that a will was not created. Our estate planning firm in Whittier understands that this can be an overwhelming process and we want to help guide you through it.

The initial step in the probate process is to file the decedent's last will & testament with the Probate Court within 30 days after the time of the decedent's death. The executor named in the will is typically held responsible for making sure that it is filed and fulfilling other important tasks, such as distributing the assets to the beneficiaries, as well as getting the affairs of the decedent in order. If the executor is unable to fulfill their duties or if a will was not created, someone is appointed by the probate court to step in.

Speak with a Los Angeles County lawyer at our firm to get started!

There are various documents involved in probate. Besides the last will & testament, there are a range of petitions to look into. From the petition for probate to the petition for appointment of a guardian, our firm can help you in understanding the importance of each one. The petition for probate must be filed in order to set up a hearing with the Probate Court; we typically have these filed within 10 days.

The probate process can be very lengthy; ranging from about a year to a year and a half. We aim to finish probate cases within a year. Considering the steps that are involved, this is usually about as quick as the process can go. We are proud to offer free probate case evaluations and help you better understand what goes into probate. By breaking down these legal terms and making them more understandable, we want to assure you that you are in good hands. There is no need to go through this overwhelming process alone.