When a person passes away, their assets will generally be subject to probate, a process by which the court assesses their will and other estate documents. Working with a skilled trust attorney in Orange County makes it easy to set up your estate to avoid going through this long and expensive legal procedure.
Many of our clients want to avoid having their assets be a matter of public record, and there are options for doing so. In this article, we'll explore probate, probate records, and potential privacy concerns.
A probate record is a public record of what happened during a probate case. Probate is a legal process that takes place in a courtroom to handle a deceased person's estate. Since it's a court process, it must be publicly documented.
All the relevant information and documents are available in a case file. However, case files aren't always readily available. Some courthouses digitize files frequently and quickly. While others take longer or don't make their records available online.
To access these records, one will need the last name of the decedent and their date of death. In most cities, those who wish to see or get a copy of the records need to pay a fee.
A probate record includes the legal documents that were involved in the probate case. At a minimum, this includes the will and other estate planning documents. Sometimes it also includes testamentary letters and an estate inventory. It generally includes personal information about the deceased and beneficiaries.
The documents in probate records all become public knowledge, which is important to consider as you make plans for your estate. For some families, that could cause complications or expose them to unwanted attention. An experienced attorney will be able to alert you to these issues and help you avoid them, when possible.
Like many other vital documents, estate records are available to the public. Even when they include private, personal information about the deceased and their heirs, they are open to the public.
Most wills go through probate court, and when they do, they become a part of public court records. Before that point, the court considers wills private documents.
For families who value privacy most, this can be a cause for concern. They may want to find ways around probate court. Once a court case starts, it's almost impossible to keep records privately. Working with a Laguna Niguel estate planning attorney allows you to find workarounds that avoid probate and all the costs and invasions of privacy that it may entail.
Probate records are detailed and include the documents submitted in court. This includes the will, administrative letters, testamentary letters, and even an inventory of the estate. This information is all public to anyone who wishes to find it.
It also includes information about the deceased person, a list of beneficiaries, and more. Sometimes the records also include personal information about the beneficiaries and executor. When a will is contested or there are other legal actions associated with it, there could be even more documents available in the probate record.
Unfortunately, it's hard to make this information private once it's part of the public record. The court only seals these records on very rare occasions, and one example is when a judge thought the records might influence a jury and affect a court case.
A better course of action is to prevent the probate process, to begin with. An estate and trust lawyer can help you find solutions to privacy concerns and more.
Probate court is a legal process that settles the estate of a person who has passed away. In many cases, it includes dividing that person's estate, paying off their debts, and carrying out their burial and other final wishes.
Probate can get quite complicated, especially if the deceased had a large estate or complex finances. An experienced attorney can guide you through the process and advocate on your behalf, if necessary. If a case seems likely to be long and complex, it's a good idea to find a lawyer before the case even begins.
There are a few situations where you can avoid probate. Trusts are a popular way to avoid probate and put all the details of estates in the public record. Retirement accounts, bank accounts, and life insurance policies also tend to have named beneficiaries.
When creating your estate plan, these are things to consider. Estate and trust attorneys know all the most pressing concerns you may be facing, and they can help you address them and make things easier for your loved ones in the future. That way, they can grieve your death without the added burden of practical concerns.
The executor is specifically mentioned in the probate record. In some instances, this person's name and contact information will be a part of the record as well. The beneficiaries will also be mentioned here, possibly also with contact information.
This is intended to make it easier for the family to get in touch if they have questions or concerns about how their loved one's will is being handled. Some executors choose to work with a law firm to support their decisions and show that they are acting in the family's best interest.
Handling your estate planning ahead of time is one of the best ways you can protect your family from hours of legal strife. Parker Law Offices provides legal help and estate administration, so you can plan ahead and make the most of your estate.Our trust attorney Orange County will offer personalized advice so you can avoid probate or keep as much personal information hidden as possible. For a free consultation, so you can learn more about our services, contact us at 949-867-4818 at Parker Law Offices today!
