We are partnered with and share office space with Redding Law firm. This boutique law firm designs personalized estate plans, wills and trusts as well as asset protection to ensure your assets pass on to your loved ones just as you intend and also protect your assets during your lifetime. Unlike large firms, you are always able to speak to your attorney with Redding Law office. This personal touch is as important to us as it is to you.

We protect your wealth and assets by providing creative estate plans using wills, trusts, family limited partnerships, guardianships, and powers of attorney.

An estate plan allows you to decide where and how you want to transfer your wealth and assets in the event of death or incapacitation. At Redding Law office we work directly with you to devise a personalized estate plan and provide maximum protection of your wealth and assets.

Laws change and we know those changes could have an impact on your estate plan. At Redding Law office we offer a free annual estate plan review for existing clients. Additionally, if you already have an estate plan, we will review your plan for free and advise you of any way we can improve your current estate plan. When a loved one passes away, his or her estate often goes through a court-managed process called probate, during which the assets of the deceased are managed and distributed.  Probate is primarily a process through which title is transferred from the name of the deceased to the names of the beneficiaries.

The cost and duration of probate can vary substantially depending on a number of factors, such as the value and complexity of the estate, the existence of a Will, and the location of real property owned by the estate.  Common expenses of an estate include executor’s fees, attorney’s fees, accounting fees, court fees, appraisal costs, and surety bonds.  Will contests or disputes with alleged creditors over the debts of the estate can also add significant cost and delay.

An objection to a Will, also known as a “Will contest” is a fairly common occurrence during the probate proceedings and can be incredibly costly to litigate.  In order to contest a Will, one has to have legal “standing” to raise objections.  This usually occurs when children are to receive disproportionate shares under the Will, or when distribution schemes change from a prior Will to a later Will.  In addition to disputes over the tangible distributions, Will contests can be about conflict regarding the person designated to serve as Executor.

Every probate estate is unique, but most involve the following steps:

• Filing of a petition with the proper probate court.
• Notice to heirs under the Will or to statutory heirs (if no Will exists).
• Petition to appoint Executor (in the case of a Will) or Administrator for the estate.
• Inventory and appraisal of estate assets by Executor/Administrator.
• Payment of estate debt to rightful creditors.
• Sale of estate assets.
• Payment of estate taxes, if applicable.
• Final distribution of assets to heirs.

Certain types of assets are what are called “non-probate assets” do not go through probate.  These include:

• Property in which you own title as “joint tenants with right of survivorship”.  Such property passes to the co-owners by operation of law and do not go through probate.
• Retirement accounts such as IRA and 401(k) accounts where there are designated beneficiaries.
• Life insurance policies.
• Bank accounts with “pay on death” (POD) designations or “in trust for” designations.
• Property owned by a living trust.  Legal title to such property passes to successor trustees without having to go through probate.

If your loved-one owned his or her assets through a well drafted and properly funded living trust, it is likely that no court-managed administration is necessary, although the successor trustee will need to administer the distribution of the deceased’s assets.

If you have questions regarding probate or estate administration, please contact our office.