"Probate is like a leaky pipe. You start with a lot in the beginning but by the time it's over...there isn't much left for your loved ones..."

Probate is California's way of winding up your estate when you die. In California, probate is public and often long, tedious, and expensive.

Probate in CA is public. This means that not only does the value of your assets become public record, but also who, where, when, and how those assets get distributed. This can be especially problematic if you or your beneficiaries have creditors at the time of your death. 

The probate process is also time consuming. It is unlikely that you would knowingly want to send your loved ones to court after your death. Even a basic probate can take 18 months to complete, and can easily exceed 2 years. If your estate is complex, it can end up taking much longer.

If you die without a testamentary instrument, such as a trust, the court will assign an executor and attorney to administer your estate. Generally speaking, the executor's job is to gather your assets, liquidate them, pay any remaining debts or taxes and distribute the rest to your heirs. As you can imagine, executor's do not work for free. Fees earned by the executor of your estate and their attorney are set by law and combined can take in excess of 5% of your total estate.

This is why it is almost always cheaper for you to do something, than for you to do nothing. 

"It is almost always cheaper for you to do something, than for you to do nothing."

OUR MISSION

At LDB Legal we are dedicated to assisting our clients in creating estate plans designed to avoid probate. However, sometimes Probate is unavoidable. If a loved one has recently passed and you need more information regarding probate in California, please give our office a call. 

If you would like more information regarding ways to avoid probate, you may find it HERE. Unlike many other estate planning firms today or do-it-yourself legal websites, LDB Legal is dedicated to providing our clients with estate plans that are specific to their situation.