by Edward TerzianContesting a Will Through Probate
Probate is the court-supervised process of authenticating a will. The estate executor or the attorney representing the estate usually initiates probate.
by Edward TerzianWhat to Expect When Contesting a Will
If you feel like you’ve been unjustly removed from a will or you are curious about the will contest process, then this article is for you.
by Edward TerzianNo Will ? What do you do now?
When someone dies without leaving a legal will, he or she has died “intestate.”When a person dies in intestacy, the responsibility of determining the distributions of their assets falls to probate court.
by Edward TerzianUnder What Circumstances Does a Will Become Invalid in CA?
Most people know that a person’s will is the legal document which dictates how that person’s property should be distributed after they die. But a will should only be used in this manner when it is actually valid under state law. When a person’s estate goes to probate, one party may submit a will to the court to be used in distributing the property in the estate, and the court will determine...
by Edward TerzianWhen Promised Property is Missing From a Person’s Estate
When a family member or loved one tells you, perhaps over the course of many years before his or her death, that property will be yours once he or she dies, it can come as a rude awakening when that property seems nowhere to be found (or is in the wrong hands) at the time the person dies. In some cases, the property may be gone forever and there is nothing you can do about it, but, in other...
by Edward TerzianMy Parents Died Without a Will in CA, What Happens?
Whether a parent succumbed after a long period of illness or died more suddenly, your first concern is no doubt the relational and emotional loss and not the financial consequences. But understanding to whom the parent’s property should be distributed and the legal process in California by which that occurs is a question you will need to address in the near term, especially if other parties...
by Edward TerzianCan I Do Probate Court By Myself?
One of the first questions most every person asks when faced with a legal challenge or pursuing a legal goal is, “Do I need a lawyer for this?” No one loves the thought of the potential expense of working with a lawyer, but, while not every legal issue requires retaining a lawyer (e.g. paying a parking ticket or filing your taxes), attempting to go it alone in probate court without the...
by Edward TerzianWhat Can I Do if a Trustee is…
If you are the beneficiary of a trust put in place by a living or deceased family member or some other benefactor, your financial well-being is at least partially in the hands of the trustee appointed to oversee that trust. Unfortunately, trustees mishandle their responsibilities in administering trusts quite frequently, either through incompetence, greed and self-dealing, lack of attention,...
by Edward TerzianProbate Process: How to Contest a Will in California
If you feel you that you have been wrongfully disinherited from a will in California or that you run the risk of being wrongfully disinherited, you should act quickly to make sure your property interests are protected by contesting the will or else run the risk of losing your right to do so. Contacting an Inheritance Recovery Attorney should be your first step to ensure that all legal...
by Edward Terzian