Santa Ana Probate Litigation Lawyer
Administering the estate of a family member following his or her death can be a long and costly process. The process usually lasts between six months and one year, depending on a number of factors.
It is important to know that there are steps you can take now to help your family avoid the process of probate in the future. At the law firm of Alan L. Darnell, Inc., we represent families throughout the Orange County area with estate administration and probate matters. To schedule an initial consultation where you can learn more, contact an Irvine avoid probate lawyer today.
How Can I Avoid Probate?
The creation of an effective estate plan can help to avoid the process of probate. There are many specific steps that can be taken in estate planning to prevent an estate from going through probate:
- Creating trusts — A trust is a legal document that holds the property assigned to it. Any property assigned to a trust bypasses the process of probate. We can help you determine which trust is right for you.
- Joint tenancy — Many married couples choose to hold the title of an asset together. Then, when one owner dies, the other becomes the owner and the property does not go through probate.
- Beneficiary designation — Certain property can be transferred directly to a beneficiary, such as retirement accounts, annuities, and bank accounts. Proper estate planning can help individuals pass on property and assets to heirs without subjecting that property to probate.
There may be additional options available that apply to your unique situation. Our firm can help you identify other ways to further protect your family and your estate.
Find out more about will contests.
Contact an Estate Administration Attorney
To learn more about avoiding probate in California, or to learn how we can help you settle probate litigation disputes, contact our law office today.