Probate & Trust Administration Attorneys in Pasadena & Long Beach, California

Do I Need Probate?

If you've lost a loved one, you may need to probate your loved one's estate. In most cases, if your loved one had a well-planned estate it's likely that most of their property would pass to estate beneficiaries through a trust, or via other non-probate transfers. In the absence of an estate plan, it can still be possible to avoid probate. Some questions to ask are:

1. Is the total value of the estate more than $150,000 (exclusive of debts)?
2. Did your loved one own real property?
3. Did your loved one have significant debts that need to be paid?
4. Has a probate petition been filed and a personal representative or administrator been appointed?

If you need to probate the estate, it is best to hire a probate attorney to handle the legal proceedings for you. Many families try to go it alone, and while some may be successful, many are not. Further, when the administration of a decedent's estate doesn't proceed smoothly, there is fertile ground for creditor claims and family disputes which often erupt into litigation that eats away at the estate.

Okay, I Need Probate...What's Next?

If you’ve lost someone and need to probate their will, or their estate in the absence of a will, Barilari & Williams, LLP is here to help you. Just follow these simple steps to get started.

1. Call or email us to schedule a free consultation. At your consultation we’ll cover:
   • Your financial needs;
   • Fees and costs;
   • Who will be the personal administrator;
   • The information needed to commence probate proceedings;
   • What you need to do to facilitate the probate process; and
   • Our attorney-client agreement.
2. Once you hire us, we get to work for you. We handle all of your court filings for you and walk you through the process of administering the estate.

It’s that simple.If you are in Southern California and you need help, contact our probate attorneys in Pasadena and Long Beach, CA to get started today!