Guidance After the Death of a Loved-One

Settle an Estate Confidently and Effectively

TPLG will guide you through the trust administration or probate process after a loved one passes. We provide legal advice, interpret and implement the directives of an existing Trust, prepare necessary legal documents, and interact with the courts, government agencies, and other interested parties on your behalf.

Settle the estate cost-effectively

Settle the estate quickly

Settle the estate efficiently

No More Sleepless Nights Worrying About Probate and Trust Administration

What We Can Do For You:

Identify proper procedures for settling the estate or trust

Assist with management of unusual assets

Determine who should be in charge and get them appointed

Deal with debts, creditors, and insolvency of the estate

Minimize potential liability to beneficiaries, creditors, and tax authorities

Minimize death taxes, capital gains taxes, and real property taxes

You deserve expert legal guidance at a fair price

We started Trust & Probate Law Group to help people like you

We get it. We understand the headaches of acting as trustees and executors. We have over 20 years experience guiding people like you.

Services We Provide to Trustees and Executors

Identify documents governing the estate or trust, interpret the terms of those documents, identifying ambiguities and potential challenges
Represent you for the entire probate or trust administration process or consult with you on one or more specific points, at your request
Provide personalized legal advice for your unique situation
Analyze validity of documents signed by your loved-one while possibly mentally incapacitated or under undue influence or fraud
Determine whether court involvement is necessary, and if so, determine which court to use
Assist you in deciding whether to serve as trustee or executor
Determine who should be charge of the estate or trust, whether a neutral 3rd party should be used, and arrange for the right person to be appointed to the position, whether by documents or by court order
Advise and assist with management (or sale) of estate’s unusual assets, such as complex investments, business or partnership interests, out-of-state property, mineral rights, farm, ranch, timber, and mining land, and royalties from copyrights or patents
Advise and assist with decedent’s debts, creditors, and insolvency of the estate, including past-due child support, spousal support, and Medi-Cal recovery claims
Advise regarding estates where death occurred during divorce or separation
Manage ownership disputes against the estate
Advise regarding disagreements among beneficiaries or heirs
Advise and assist in situations where someone interferes with, or challenges, your estate settlement activities
Determine if death taxes are due
Coordinate with your tax preparer to assure that the decedent’s and the estate’s taxes are appropriately filed and paid
Represent you in probate court for
1. Full formal probate,
2. Title-clearing petitions, and/or
3. Trust-related petitions (such as Heggstad petitions, trust modifications and beneficiary determinations)
Assist with California ancillary probates if decedent owned California real property but resided elsewhere
Determine meaning and validity of beneficiary designations on insurance policies, bank accounts, and brokerage accounts
Assist with distribution of IRA’s, 401k’s, and other retirement accounts to preserve tax-favored status
Assist with limiting Proposition 13-related reassessments for deaths before and after effective date of Proposition 19
Provide required notices to beneficiaries, heirs, and government agencies
Assist with distributions to minors, legally incapacitated adults, and persons receiving needs-based government benefits (such as Medi-Cal)
Provide information to title companies to assist with the sale of estate real property
Advise and assist with communications to beneficiaries and heirs
Classify assets as separate property vs community property
Ensure proper preparation of paperwork for the tasks listed above

3 Simple Steps to Begin the Estate Settlement Process

1. Call for a free, no-obligation phone consultation with an attorney

This call typically takes about 10 – 15 minutes, to determine if we are the right attorneys for your situation. If not, we will try to send you to someone who is.

2. Send the decedent's estate planning documents, if available

We usually need copies of any existing Wills, Trusts, Trust Amendments, and Trust Restatements.

You may provide them to us by email, upload, or regular mail.

3. Free, 1-Hour, No-Obligation Consultation with Expert Trust & Probate Attorney

We will tell you what needs to be done and give you an estimate of how long it will take and what it will cost.

Communicating with You Throughout Your Case

Responsive

Quick responses to your questions, calls, emails, and texts

Available

We'll meet with you within a few days whenever you request a meeting

Convenient

We'll communicate with you by text or email and meet by Zoom or phone

Helpful

We will help you understand the process and next steps