Sacramento Probate Law Attorney

At the law firm of Johnson, Fort, Meissner, Joseph & Palley, we help our clients create estate plans that place property into living trusts and joint tenancy which can be passed directly to heirs and beneficiaries without the time or expense or a probate proceeding. However, not everybody has an estate plan in place when they pass away. If someone dies with a simple will, without a will, or with property owned as tenants in common, then probate is the necessary, court-administered process of distributing the deceased person's estate to those entitled to receive those assets.

Here is an overview of the probate options in California:

• Full probate
• Spousal property petitions
• Probate for estates valued under $100,000
• Heggstad Petitions

The full probate process takes a minimum of seven months to complete and can cost up to 8 percent of the estate. Expedited or mini probate options (such as spousal property petitions, estates valued under $100,000 and Heggstad petitions) can be completed in two months and cost a fraction of a full probate proceeding.

Starting the Probate Process

It is a good idea to start the probate process as quickly as possible after a loved one dies. Obviously, funeral arrangements and other family matters need to be addressed first. Once these personal matters have been taken care of, it's important to hire a competent probate attorney. A probate attorney can handle the process for you, leaving you with as little responsibility as possible in regards to the decedent's estate.

As your representative, we will meet with you to:

• Determine what type of probate is best for you
• Efficiently file all necessary court documents
• Move the probate process along toward the earliest possible conclusion.

Our attorneys also represent clients in estate litigation when a will is contested or when a trustee breaches their fiduciary responsibility when administering a trust.

Please review the information on this site, including our Probate Practice Center for more information about your probate options.

Serving the probate needs of clients in northern California, including Sacramento, Roseville, Fair Oaks, Folsom, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova and all surrounding counties including the counties of Yolo, Solano, Sutter, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Placer, Yuba, and El Dorado.

For a FREE Initial Probate Consultation
Call Probate Lawyer John Palley at 888-920-5983 / 916-920-5983