Let Our Probate Attorney Guide You Through The Shasta County Probate Process
At the Law Office of DeAnne E. Parker, we offer thoughtful and honest guidance to help our clients in the Redding area make sense of the Shasta County probate process. We believe that by offering tailored support to clients, we can help them breeze through every step of the process and correctly settle the estate. The probate process in Shasta County can be somewhat complex, but you can rely on the experience and guidance of our probate attorney.
Beginning The Probate Process
Questions are bound to arise during the probate process. Our probate attorney has the knowledge to support you throughout the following steps:
- Determine whether probate is required: Depending on the depth of your loved one’s financial planning, the probate process may or may not be needed. Going through the probate process may be unnecessary if the decedent utilized multiple estate planning tools to set the family up for success.
- File a probate petition: If probate is necessary for your family, you must file a petition with the Shasta County Superior Court.
- Select a personal representative: After you have filed the petition, the court will then select someone to be the executor of your estate.
Handling The Estate
After you have completed the initial phases of the probate process, the administration aspect of the process will commence.
- Taking inventory: During this phase, the executor of the estate will identify the assets in your loved one’s estate and have each of them accurately appraised.
- Managing the estate: The executor will be tasked with tying up any loose ends related to the estate. This will include paying off any outstanding debts or taxes.
- Informing creditors: After the decedent has passed away, the executor must notify all creditors in order to give them the ability to file claims if needed.
Taking the time to accurately take inventory and promptly inform creditors about the passing of the decedent will make the later stages of the probate process easier on everyone involved.
Closing The Estate
After identifying the estate’s inventory and all creditors, the final part of the probate process will begin, which involves taking care of all debts and distributing assets.
- Pay outstanding debts: The executor must work with any potential creditors to make sure all debts are satisfied.
- Dividing assets: The decedent’s assets are distributed according to the wishes outlined in their will. If there is no valid will, California’s intestacy laws will govern the distribution of assets.
- Filing for court approval: The final aspect of the probate process involves submitting the financial documents of the estate to the court for final approval. If the court approves everything, the probate process will officially be over.
Once the court has confirmed that the estate has paid off all outstanding debts and correctly divided all assets, the court will deem the estate closed.
Contact An Experienced Probate Attorney
Unless you have previous experience with the probate process, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Our compassionate probate lawyer is prepared to help you find peace of mind and feel confident at all times during the probate process. To learn more about how we can help you during this challenging time, please contact us at 530-242-6025 or email us today.