Best Probate Lawyers in Hawthorne

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Hawthorne, California?

  You may contact the Hawthorne Police Department dispatch center at 310-675-4444 for non-emergency concerns.

• Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Hawthorne, California?

  You may call 310-349-2700 to request incident reports from the Hawthorne Police Department Records Bureau.

• When does the validity of a will need to be proven in a Hawthorne probate?

  The validity of a will in Hawthorne needs to be proven during probate unless it is deemed a “self-proving” will. If a will is worded in a certain way required by state law, and if it references affidavits from the witnesses who signed it, then the presence of such elements is enough to consider it self-proving.

• What happens to an estate in Hawthorne if the deceased left no will for probate?

  Contrary to many people’s misconception regarding probate, the state will not automatically seize the property of someone in Hawthorne who died without a will. California law usually bequeaths their property to close relatives or, if need be, to remote ones. In unusual cases where no surviving kin exists, the estate is escheated to Los Angeles County, where Hawthorne is located, if the deceased lived there at the time of death.

• What negative consequences can Hawthorne beneficiaries and heirs experience in probate of their deceased loved one’s estate?

  Hawthorne beneficiaries and heirs realize that probate is expensive, with innumerable costs such as legal and executor fees, accounting charges, court costs, liquidation charges, and appraisal and miscellaneous expenses, which can considerably shave down the estate’s value. These essentially come from the inheritors’ pockets. Also, since probate records can be accessed by everyone, the loss of the family’s privacy may become an issue and could cause discord among its members.

• How much should a Hawthorne estate’s value be for it to require probate?

  Ultimately, the need for probate in California boils down to how much the deceased’s estate value is, and in Hawthorne, that value has been set at more than $184,500 since April 2022. Estates whose value exceeds this figure will require court supervision in overseeing the accounting and distribution of assets.

• What are some of the essential matters that must be discussed with a Hawthorne estate planning lawyer to ease the probate process?

  Some important matters that need to be discussed with a Hawthorne estate planning lawyer to ease probate include:

  • disclosure of all assets - to help the lawyer create a strategy to keep as many of your assets as possible exempted from probate
  • family dynamics - to make the lawyer aware of tension points within the family to help avoid future conflicts, hurt, and bickering
  • charitable giving intentions - to let the lawyer know the organizations and causes you want to give your assets to after death.