Reimbursable Estate Property Maintenance Expenses — California
Detailed Answer Short answer: Under California probate practice, the personal representative (executor or administrator) may pay and be reimbursed from estate funds for reasonable, necessary expenses incurred to preserve, maintain, secure, and prepare estate real property for sale. Typical reimbursable items include utilities, insurance, ordinary repairs, landscape care, property management, mortgage and tax payments, HOA […]
Read article →How to Be Appointed Estate Administrator or Co-Administrator in California
Steps to Be Appointed Estate Administrator or Co-Administrator in California This FAQ-style guide explains the typical steps someone in California must take to be appointed as an estate administrator (or co-administrator). It assumes no prior legal knowledge and uses common, hypothetical facts. This is educational only and not legal advice. Short Answer — What you […]
Read article →How to Challenge a Suspected Forged Will in California
Can I overturn a will I believe is forged? A clear guide for California Disclaimer: This is general information only and is not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different. Consult a California probate attorney to protect your rights. Detailed Answer — How challenging a forged will works in California If you believe […]
Read article →How to Use Wills and Beneficiary Designations to Avoid Probate in California
Can wills and beneficiary designations keep your assets out of probate in California? Short answer: Yes—some assets can pass outside probate through beneficiary designations, joint ownership, payable-on-death accounts, transfer-on-death (TOD) registrations, and trusts. However, a will alone generally does not avoid probate. Which tools work best depends on the type of asset, how it is […]
Read article →How to Submit an Original Will to a California Probate Court When You Live Out of State
Detailed Answer This guide explains practical steps to get an original will filed in a California probate court when you live outside California. It summarizes how to locate the right court, how to safely deliver the original will, what documents the court typically expects, and options if you cannot come in person. This is educational […]
Read article →California: Recovering Funds Taken from a Deceased Parent’s Bank or Credit Accounts
Short answer If someone withdraws money or uses credit accounts belonging to a parent after the parent dies, the estate can usually try to recover those funds. The result depends on how the accounts were titled before death (solely in the decedent’s name, joint, or payable-on-death), whether the withdrawal was authorized, and how quickly the […]
Read article →How to Buy Out Siblings’ Shares in a Parent’s House in California
How to Buy Out Siblings’ Shares in a Parent’s House in California This FAQ explains, in plain language, the common steps for buying your siblings’ shares in a parent’s home in California instead of forcing a sale through probate or a partition action. This is educational information only and not legal advice. Detailed answer: How […]
Read article →Guardian ad Litem for Minor Heirs in California: Appointing One Before Selling Inherited Land
Detailed answer Short answer: Yes — under California law you can ask the court to appoint a guardian ad litem (GAL) to represent the legal interests of minor heirs before selling real estate that they inherit. The court has the power to appoint a GAL in probate and civil proceedings when a minor or person […]
Read article →California: How to Get Court Approval to Sell an Inherited Home When Co-Owners Include Minors
Detailed Answer Overview When a decedent’s home ends up owned by multiple heirs and one or more of those owners are minors, California law usually requires court supervision before the property can be sold. Court involvement protects the financial interests of the minors and ensures the sale and distribution of proceeds follow the law. The […]
Read article →California — What to Include When Filing a Family Allowance Petition
How to Prepare a Family Allowance Petition in California: What to Include Quick answer: In California you do not file a "year's allowance" petition by that name. Instead, you can ask the probate court for a family allowance or interim support for the surviving spouse, domestic partner, or minor children while the estate is administered. […]
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