If you’re living in Orange County and find yourself trapped in the probate process, you may feel that there is simply no way to organize everything for your estate. There are people who can help you make sure the bills, liabilities and other aspects of an estate are covered, and that can help you make sure that your beneficiaries and assets are taken care of properly.
There are a number of things that you’ll need to have someone do after you pass away or when you are put in charge of an estate. First of all, all beneficiaries have to be notified about the assets and estate. Then, the assets must be valued, especially if they are meant to be split between beneficiaries.
The distribution of assets and payments of debts and obligations also must be completed. This can be done by an appointed person like a family member, but often someone who works with the law is better suited to the job. This person can also oversee the transferring of titles or putting together contracts for the sale of property. Most aspects of probate may be handled by a third party, which is helpful if you find yourself concerned that you may not be completing the process correctly.
When an estate is worth more than $150,000, it has to be probated in court unless a living trust or trust is also present. During this time, it may be wise to look into legal options, as this process and be long and have potential complications. To learn more about what you can do to help the probate process move forward quickly so you can dole out the assets you have as they were meant to be distributed, please take a look at our estate administration webpage.