No Estate Plan?
That’s exactly when PROBATE begins. We are here to make the process clearer and easier for your family.
When there’s no plan, the court takes over—let’s make sure your family never has to go through that.
We can help you through every step!
What is Probate?
The hidden challenges no one warns you about…
It’s Expensive
Probate in California isn’t based on how complicated your estate is—it’s based on a statutory, court-mandated fee that is the same no matter which attorney you hire. Every attorney and every administrator receives the exact same amount under the law.
For example, if someone passes away owning a $1,000,000 home and $50,000 in the bank, the court counts the full $1,050,000 toward probate fees.
Under California’s statutory formula, the attorney would receive about $23,500, and the administrator would receive the same, totaling around $47,000—all paid out of the estate before the family receives anything.
Your Family Can’t Access Funds or Make Decisions Right Away
Bank accounts may be frozen, property can’t be sold, and even simple tasks—like paying the mortgage or handling bills—may require court approval, leaving your family stuck when they need help the most.
If your loved ones need to sell the house, they can’t do it until the court gives them permission, which can take months. And before any money is released during probate, everything must first go through the court—every step, every asset, every dollar.
Probate happens when someone passes away and the court has to step in because nothing was set up to transfer their assets smoothly. It’s the court sorting out what they owned, who should receive it, and who’s in charge—often with a lot of paperwork along the way. For most families, it becomes one more difficult thing to handle during an already emotional time.
It Takes a Long Time
The process moves slowly, sometimes months, sometimes a year or longer, leaving your family waiting before they can access anything or make important decisions. Even simple actions—selling a home, paying bills, closing accounts—often require court approval, which can delay everything further. During this time, your family is stuck watching the court’s calendar instead of moving forward with healing and closure.
It Adds Stress During an Already Hard Time
Probate often shows up when families are grieving, turning simple tasks—like paying bills or accessing accounts—into a maze of court steps and waiting periods.
For example, your family may need to pay your mortgage or property taxes right away, but the bank won’t release funds until a judge signs off—forcing them to cover expenses out of pocket during an already painful time.
Instead of focusing on honoring your memory or supporting one another, they’re forced to deal with paperwork, deadlines, and legal requirements. It becomes one more burden during a time when they’re already overwhelmed.
It Becomes Public
Everything filed in probate becomes part of the public record—your assets, debts, and even family details—meaning anyone can look them up.
The court also requires a public newspaper publication announcing the probate case so creditors can come forward and make claims.
Probate is designed to protect creditors first, not families!
Your loved ones must wait while lenders, medical providers, and anyone owed money get the chance to be paid before inheritance is released.
It Can Create Family Tension
When the court gets involved and everything takes time, disagreements can surface, and even close families can feel strained or confused about what’s happening. Misunderstandings grow easily when communication moves through lawyers and court filings.
For example, one sibling may want to sell the home to cover expenses while another wants to keep it—but neither can move forward without court approval, causing frustration and misunderstandings.
What could have been quiet, private decisions suddenly becomes a long, emotional process that can pull family members in different directions.What could have been quiet, private decisions suddenly becomes a long, emotional process that can pull family members in different directions.
