Contra Costa County Probate and Estate Administration
When it comes to the probate of a will or the administration of a decedent's estate, the difference between getting it right the first time and having to undo mistakes can be measured in time and money. If you are the personal representative of a Contra Costa County estate, you can avoid delays and the risk of personal liability by getting timely advice you need about your responsibilities. Contact an East Bay Area probate attorney at the Law Office of Thomas F. McKenna in Walnut Creek.
More often than not, the person named in a will to serve as executor at the death of the testator has never before been responsible for probate duties. The person named to serve as the administrator of an estate in the absence of a will is also likely to be entirely unfamiliar with estate administration and probate court processes. The advice of an experienced probate lawyer can help you discharge your functions smoothly and confidently so that heirs and beneficiaries can share in the assets of the estate without unnecessary delays or expenses.
Contra Costa County probate lawyer's practice has focused primarily on probate and conservatorship matters. Her familiarity with the probate courts throughout the county, from Martinez and Pittsburg to Richmond and Walnut Creek, can take the guesswork out of what you need to do and when to do it. In fact, she can take care of most of the work herself, with timely reports to the executor and heirs, and sound recommendations for action whenever questions arise.
The duties of an executor or personal representative in probate court include the following:
- Presenting the will for probate
- Establishing the validity of the will if questioned
- Preparing an inventory and valuation of the assets of the estate
- Handling the claims of creditors of the estate, and when necessary, disputing them
- Preparing the Inventory and Appraisal
- Assisting with the sale of estate assets
- Preparing interim and final reports as required by the probate court
- Representing the estate in response to inquiries from heirs, creditors, or other third parties
- Distributing assets to the decedent's heirs and beneficiaries
In some cases, problems might arise concerning the rights of an heir or surviving spouse, the valuation of a particular asset, or disagreements between family members.
Serving probate clients in Pleasanton, Martinez and from out of state
It often happens that the person named as executor or appointed as an administrator lives far from the Bay Area or even in another state. Our law firm can represent personal representatives on a remote basis just as effectively as if you were right in Walnut Creek. Only in rare cases will an out-of-state executor need to return to California to attend to probate business.
Conservatorship proceedings in Contra Costa County
Another important aspect of my California probate practice is my ability to advise families who need guidance about the protection of relatives — especially elderly parents — who suffer from Alzheimer's, dementia, or other physical or mental disabilities that compromise their ability to protect themselves. I can let you know whether the court appointment of a conservator represents an effective solution to the problem, or whether alternative measures would be better suited to your family's situation.
To learn more about my ability to help with probate, estate administration and conservatorship in Contra Costa County and elsewhere in the Bay Area, contact the Law Office of Thomas F. McKenna in Walnut Creek.
