Probate Administration in Riverside
Riverside Probate Attorney With Over 30 Years' Experience
Looking for a lawyer to assist you with
probate administration in Riverside? Attorney
Dennis M. Sandoval has been helping executors and administrators through probate proceedings
for over 30 years. As a result of his hard work and dedication in the areas of
estate planning and probate, he has earned some of the most sought after accolades in
the legal field.
Attorney Sandoval has a 10.0 Superb Avvo Rating, he is AV Preeminent®
Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® for demonstrating the highest standards
of ethical conduct and legal ability, and he is included in California's
selection of
Super Lawyers®. When looking for skillful representation with a track record of
success, contact Dennis M. Sandoval, a PLC.
Probate: Settling the Decedent's Estate
When someone passes away, their estate will usually need to be probated,
which is a court-supervised process that involves:
- Appointing an executor to settle the estate.
-
Deciding that a
will is valid.
- Paying debts, claims and taxes against an estate.
- Taking care of the financial responsibilities of the decedent.
- After all debts are paid, distributing what's left to the beneficiaries.
In a probate case, an executor (in the presence of a will) or an administrator
(in the absence of a will) is appointed by the court as the personal representative
to collect the assets, pay all debts and expenses, and distributing the
remainder to those with the legal right to inherit. This process is called
probate administration and it is all done under the supervision of the court.
In Riverside, when a person passes away and he or she left a will, the
will must be filed with the court within 30 days after the death and a
copy of the will must be mailed to the executor.
The formal process of "decedent's
estate administration" requires an individual to petition the court to be appointed as
the personal representative of an estate. If the court decides that the
decedent left behind a valid will, the court issues a "letters testamentary"
or "letters of administration with will annexed" to the executor.
If the will is not admitted to probate, the court issues "letters
of administration."
For smaller estates with few assets, and no known debts, a less formal
"summary" procedure may be available through the court.
Contact a Riverside Probate Attorney
Executors have a great deal of responsibility placed on their shoulders
to act honorably and always in the best interests of the beneficiaries.
If you have been appointed an executor of a Riverside County estate, we
urge you to
contact our office immediately to arrange a free one-hour consultation with attorney Sandoval
to find out how we can help you through this complex process.