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Best Probate Lawyers in Berkeley

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2023
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Atashi Rang Ewing-Rice Law Firm PC logo

Atashi Rang Ewing-Rice Law Firm PC

1255 Treat Boulevard #300, Walnut Creek, CA 94597
  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

Atashi Rang Ewing-Rice Law Firm PC has two offices in California. It offers consultation and representation to Berkeley citizens who need legal assistance probating an estate of a deceased person. Its attorneys also help efficiently manage trusts. Additionally, their services include drafting and preparing estate planning documents, such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney for financial and healthcare directives. Amir Atashi-Rang, the firm's founder, is a board-certified specialist in estate planning, trusts, and probate law.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (79)
Google
5.0 / 5 (17)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.0
Responsiveness
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Detail
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Button Law Inc. logo
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Button Law Inc.

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1052 Filbert Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust

Business Description

Button Law, Inc., handles estate matters for clients in Berkeley and nearby areas. Its attorneys assist in navigating the probate process, helping clients file paperwork to prevent delays. They create solutions for estates to reduce the hassles of probate, changing property deeds at the County Recorder’s Office and putting properties under trusts. Elizabeth Button previously worked as a law clerk at the San Mateo Probate Court and is a volunteer at the Institute on Aging.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (16)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
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Cappelloni Law PC logo
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Cappelloni Law PC

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201 Spear Street, Suite 1160, San Francisco, CA 94105
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

Business Description

Cappelloni Law PC represents clients in the Berkeley metro. It helps estate administrators and executors navigate the probate process and fulfill their fiduciary duties, such as making an inventory of assets, notifying beneficiaries and heirs at law, informing and paying creditors, and obtaining a court order for asset distribution. It also takes on cases involving trust administration and estate plan drafting and execution. The firm's principal attorney, Lauren Cappelloni, is a trusts and estates section member of the California Lawyers Association.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (23)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (8)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
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Detail
Hartog, Baer, Zabronsky & Verriere logo
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Hartog, Baer, Zabronsky & Verriere

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4 Orinda Way, Suite 200-D, Orinda, CA 94563
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration

Business Description

Hartog, Baer, Zabronsky & Verriere is a trust and estate law firm in Orinda catering to individuals, families, and businesses in the Berkeley metro. The legal team helps clients collect, identify, and distribute estates. One of the firm's principal lawyers, John A. Hartog, is a state-certified specialist in estate planning, trust, probate, and taxation law. Hartog has been a practicing lawyer for more than 40 years and has handled concerns involving will administration and intestate succession.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
3.8
Google
3.8 / 5 (5)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
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Hedemark Law logo
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Hedemark Law

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220 Montgomery Street, Suite 1100, San Francisco, CA 94104
  • Trusts

Business Description

Hedemark Law is a private legal practice that serves individuals and families in Berkeley and the surrounding areas. It provides legal assistance for probate court matters, which also includes conservatorships and the guardianship of minors. It also offers related services such as estate planning and administration. In addition, the firm advises on matters regarding real estate and property litigation. Principal attorney Justin Peter Hedemark has been practicing law for more than six years. He can serve clients in English and German.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (16)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.0
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Detail
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Hoekstra Law, P.C. logo
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Hoekstra Law, P.C.

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1569 Solano Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94707
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust

Business Description

Hoekstra Law PC is a boutique law firm founded by Heather Matsumoto Hoekstra, a probate attorney in Berkeley with over a decade of legal experience serving clients in the surrounding communities. Ms. Hoekstra has successfully represented people in all aspects of probate administration, including estate litigation where interested parties allege fraud or the mental incapacity of the decedent at the time of writing their will. The firm also practices elder law.

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
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Law Office of Arabelle Malinis logo
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Law Office of Arabelle Malinis

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1720 Broadway, Suite 430, Oakland, CA 94612
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

The Law Office of Arabelle Malinis serves individuals throughout Berkeley. It handles probate cases, representing beneficiaries, executors, heirs, and trustees in legal matters involving probate. It also deals with trust and post-death administration, wills, revocable living trusts, durable powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. Additionally, the firm provides customizable estate planning packages. It caters to traditional and nontraditional families, individuals, and LGBTQIA members. Firm principal Arabelle Malinis is a member of the trust and estates section of the California State Bar.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.6
Google
4.6 / 5 (9)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
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Detail
Law Office Of Jane K. Penhaligen logo
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Law Office Of Jane K. Penhaligen

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3478 Buskirk Avenue, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Estate Taxes
  • Trust Administration

Business Description

The Law Office Of Jane K. Penhaligen is the professional home of Jane Penhaligen, an estate planning attorney near Berkeley with more than 20 years of experience providing compassionate assistance to will executors in matters of probate. Almost all of Attorney Penhaligen's experience is in easing the transfer of wealth from decedents to their heirs and beneficiaries, ensuring creditors are dealt with and taxes filed. Miss Penhaligen also helps with tax planning and trust administration.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.7
Google
4.8 / 5 (9)
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (7)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (2)

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Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
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Law Offices of Daniel Leahy logo
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Law Offices of Daniel Leahy

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1970 Broadway, Suite 1200, Oakland, CA 94612
  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

The Law Offices of Daniel Leahy works with the residents of Berkeley who have issues involving probate law. The firm litigates matters pertaining to the administration of trusts and the validity of wills, including instances of undue influence upon the decedent and the forging of testate provisions. The office also handles elder law abuse cases and disputes between heirs and disinherited offspring. Counsel Daniel J. Leahy is certified by the state bar as a specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Facebook
4.7 / 5 (14)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (7)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (4)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
Law Offices of F. Michael Hanson logo
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Law Offices of F. Michael Hanson

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2603 Camino Ramon, Suite 419, San Ramon, CA 94583
  • Trusts
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Estate Taxes
  • Trust Administration

Business Description

The Law Offices of F. Michael Hanson is a private practice with more than 42 years of legal experience. Attorney Hanson has served many clients in need of a probate attorney who can guide them through the process and is sensitive to the emotional challenges of dealing with the estate of a loved one. The Law Offices of F. Michael Hanson also practice elder law estate planning and nursing home asset protection.

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
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Detail
Law Offices of Howard E. Kane logo
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Law Offices of Howard E. Kane

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1271 Washington Boulevard, San Leandro, CA 94577
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Probate Litigation

Business Description

The Law Offices of Howard E. Kane is a boutique practice that focuses almost exclusively on all aspects of estate planning and trust and probate administration in the San Francisco Bay Area. Attorney Kane has been practicing law since 1990 and has significant experience guiding executors through the probate process. He has also successfully liquidized estates, dealt with claims from creditors, and ensured heirs and beneficiaries received their inheritances as quickly as possible.

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
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Detail
Law Offices of Magany Abbass, Inc. logo
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Law Offices of Magany Abbass, Inc.

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1043 Stuart Street, Lafayette, CA 94549
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

Business Description

Law Offices of Magany Abbass, Inc., offers legal services to clients in Berkeley. It administers various trusts, preserving the financial stability of these organizations to support beneficiaries for the whole duration of the trust. It also handles the administration of incentive, credit shelter, living, charitable remainder, QTIP, and generation-skipping trusts. In addition, it helps in asset investment and management, tax return preparation, and distribution to beneficiaries. Its attorney, Magany Abbass, launched the firm in 1996. She also deals with real estate matters.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (31)
Google
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
Law Offices of Richard C. Naish logo
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Law Offices of Richard C. Naish

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1760 Solano Ave., Ste. 308, Berkeley, CA 94707
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

The Law Offices of Richard C. Naish is a private legal practice that serves the residents of Berkeley and the surrounding areas. It provides probate and trust administration services, which include the appraisal and distribution of estate assets to heirs. It also guides clients through the filing of petitions and notices, as well as estate tax payments. Principal attorney Richard Carrol Naish has been practicing law for almost a decade. He also holds an MS degree in taxation.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (6)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
Law Offices of Wayne A Lampert logo

Law Offices of Wayne A Lampert

1999 Harrison Street, Suite 1800,, Oakland, CA 94612
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

Business Description

Based in Oakland and Dallas, the Law Offices of Wayne A. Lampert has been serving Berkeley clients since 1995. Lampert is a probate attorney who provides legal counsel to trustees, administrators, and executors. He represents clients in probate proceedings and advocates for beneficiary interests. In addition, he deals with litigations such as will contests and fiduciary litigations. The Law Offices of Wayne A. Lampert also handles legal issues involving business startups, partnership dissolution, business disputes, trusts, and health care directives.

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
People Law Practice logo

People Law Practice

3873 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611
  • Estate Planning

Business Description

People Law Practice is a full-service firm of probate attorneys near Berkeley who represent individuals and families throughout the surrounding communities. The attorneys have experience in assisting will executors during the emotional and legal stresses of administering the final will of a loved one. Their services include petitioning the proper probate court, notifying interested parties of the beginning of probate, such as heirs and creditors, and liquidizing the estate in preparation for handover to its beneficiaries.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
Roisman Henel Adams logo

Roisman Henel Adams

1999 Harrison Street, Suite 1400, Oakland, CA 94612
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration

Business Description

Roisman Henel Adams is a boutique law firm that assists individuals and families in Berkeley. It serves as legal counsel of executors in probate court proceedings and handles the legal and tax aspects of a decedent's estate. One of the firm's partners, Margaret Roisman, is a board-certified specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law recognized by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. She is also a fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
Sara R. Diamond PhD Attorney at Law logo

Sara R. Diamond PhD Attorney at Law

3150 Hilltop Mall Road, Richmond, CA 94806
  • Trusts
  • Wills

Business Description

Sara R. Diamond, Ph.D. Attorney at Law is a firm that provides legal assistance to clients with probate concerns in the Berkeley metro. Its attorney helps in preparing estate planning, reviewing estate documents, and updating them when necessary. She also creates ethical wills or legacy letters for her client's beneficiaries and heirs. Having published four books about right-wing political movements, Dr. Sara R. Diamond is also a well-known author and was previously an investigative journalist.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.4
Yelp
4.0 / 5 (29)
Facebook
4.5 / 5 (4)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
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The Law Office Of Kevan Warren logo
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The Law Office Of Kevan Warren

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1534 Solano Avenue, Albany, CA 94707
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration

Business Description

The Law Office of Kevan Warren is a legal clinic specializing in probate proceedings and estate planning law in Berkeley and surrounding areas. It was established in 2015 by Kevan Warren, a board-certified specialist in California estate planning, trust, and probate law. He has been a lawyer for over a decade and has handled will executions, trust administrations, drafting estate planning documents, and distribution of assets. Warren also handles probate matters of decedents without a will (intestate).

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
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Urbatsch Law Firm P.C. logo

Urbatsch Law Firm P.C.

1240 6th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710

Business Description

Headquartered in Berkeley, Urbatsch Law Firm P.C. helps local clients prepare for the future with estate planning and probate services. Its attorneys work with people from different walks of life, including high-net-worth individuals and families with modest means of income. It assists with creating wills, revocable living trusts, advanced healthcare directives, and powers of attorneys. It also plans Medi-Cal benefits and VA Aid and Attendance pensions. Principal lawyer Kevin Urbatsch is a certified specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.7
Google
4.8 / 5 (17)
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (12)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What does a probate attorney do?

    Probate attorneys are licensed professionals who represent executors and heirs after someone has died. They provide personalized legal advice, assist with tax planning, settle debts, and facilitate the distribution of assets. Probate attorneys typically represent clients during administrative proceedings overseen by probate courts, although some litigators focus on handling disputes and lawsuits related to contested estates.

  • What is probate court?

    Probate court works with the family or beneficiaries of a deceased person to validate their last will and testament. The courts review the individual's will to identify and calculate assets, pay off remaining debts, and distribute the remaining property to beneficiaries per the deceased person's requests. Depending on state laws, property valued under a certain amount may not require probate.

  • How long do you have to file probate after death?

    The amount of time loved ones have to file a will after a person dies varies from state to state. While California courts require probate to be filed within one year, New York has no deadline. That being said, it's advisable to file probate as quickly as possible once a person has died, as the process itself can take anywhere from a few weeks to more than a year.

  • Does life insurance go through probate?

    Life insurance doesn't need to go through the probate courts if the deceased individual has named a beneficiary on their policy. However, life insurance policies without beneficiaries, or with beneficiaries who are either deceased themselves or cannot be contacted, go directly to the deceased individual's estate. When this happens, life insurance proceeds must go through probate court to determine how funds should be allocated.

  • Do household items go through probate?

    While the exact rules do vary from state to state, most household items don't require probate and are automatically left to immediate families unless otherwise stated in the deceased person's will. When it comes to property, only items above a certain value or held in title are required to go through probate in most states.

  • Do bank accounts with beneficiaries have to go through probate?

    In the event a beneficiary has been named, bank accounts are not required to go through probate and will be paid directly to the person designated by the deceased individual. However, should that individual be deceased themselves or if contact cannot be made after a certain period of time, funds will be allocated to the estate and put through the probate process.

  • What happens if no probate is filed?

    Depending on the circumstances, probate may not be required in all cases. If a person passes on and their remaining property is jointly owned, it automatically transfers to the other owner. However, if a property is not jointly owned and no probate has been filed, the executor of the will won't be able to transfer titles or cash assets to beneficiaries. Be aware that the specific laws surrounding probate requirements vary from state to state.