Estate administrators have no small task ahead of them. The below first steps are only part of what an administrator is required to complete but each item is a key requirement in the beginning of an probate administration and should be completed as soon as possible. Read more
In California, there is only one form required to begin a probate proceeding. This form is entitled DE-111 and is known as a petition for probate. A copy of DE-111 can be found here. While a step-by-step overview of how to fill out the form would take much more than a simple blog post to address, the general information required to complete the form is somewhat straightforward and is covered below. Read more
When filing a DE-111 Petition for Probate (covered further here), the filing party is required to submit the petition in the County that the decedent was “domiciled” at the time of their death. Generally, the decedent’s domicile will be easy to determine. In cases where a decedent may have recently moved or maintained multiple residences, however, additional review may be necessary. Read more
Depending on the value of the assets in an estate, you may be able to take advantage of informal probate proceedings to expedite the transfer of these assets into your name. Estates with less than $150,000 worth of assets may be settled using certain simplified transfer procedures. The procedures will depend on the type of asset being transferred. Read more