Probate Lawyer Services Burbank CA | Trust Attorneys Burbank CA
When a loved one passes away in Burbank, California, you need an experienced probate lawyer Burbank CA to guide you through probate law Burbank CA. As a professional probate attorney Burbank CA and trust lawyer Burbank CA, we provide comprehensive probate lawyer services Burbank CA for families throughout the Media Capital. Our trust attorneys Burbank CA team offers expert trust lawyer service Burbank CA with over 25 years of experience, ensuring your loved one's estate is administered properly and efficiently.
Schedule Free ConsultationCall Now for a Free Legal Consultation:
(818) 291-6217Probate is the legal process through which a deceased person's estate is administered and distributed under court supervision. In California, when someone dies and owns assets solely in their name, those assets typically must go through the probate process at the local Superior Court. For Burbank residents, probate cases are filed at the Burbank Courthouse located at 300 E Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91502.
The California probate process involves validating the deceased person's will (if one exists), appointing an executor or administrator, inventorying and appraising assets, paying debts and taxes, and ultimately distributing the remaining assets to the rightful heirs or beneficiaries. As a professional probate attorney Burbank CA, we handle every aspect of this complex legal process. Our professional probate lawyers Burbank CA team ensures compliance with probate law Burbank CA requirements while protecting your interests throughout the entire process.
Having a professional probate attorney Burbank CA is essential because probate law Burbank CA is complex, with strict deadlines, detailed filing requirements, and potential liability for executors who make mistakes. Our probate and estate lawyer Burbank CA team has extensive experience providing expert probate lawyer service Burbank CA at the Burbank Courthouse, navigating the process efficiently while minimizing stress on your family.
Our Burbank probate law firm provides comprehensive probate administration services to families throughout Los Angeles County. Whether you're an executor facing the responsibility of administering an estate or a beneficiary concerned about your inheritance, our probate lawyers can help.
Filing the initial petition with Burbank Courthouse to open the probate case and appoint the executor or administrator of the estate.
Complete administration of the estate, including managing assets, handling creditor claims, and distributing property to heirs and beneficiaries.
Representation in will contests, trust disputes, elder abuse claims, and other probate-related litigation before the Burbank Courthouse.
Properly handling creditor claims, publishing required notices, and ensuring all legitimate debts are paid according to California law.
Ensuring proper distribution of estate assets to beneficiaries and heirs in accordance with the will or California intestacy laws.
Handling probate real estate matters, including court approval for sales, transferring property titles, and distribution of real property.
Preparing and filing the final accounting with the court, showing all estate transactions and distributions for court approval.
Protecting executors from personal liability by ensuring all legal requirements are met and all actions are properly documented.
Understanding the probate timeline can help you plan and set realistic expectations. In California, the probate process typically takes between 9 to 18 months, though complex estates may take longer. As your Burbank probate attorney, we guide you through each phase:
We file the petition for probate with Burbank Courthouse within 30 days of death.
Providing required notices to heirs and beneficiaries. Court hearing occurs 4-6 weeks after filing.
Identifying, inventorying, and appraising all estate assets within 4 months of appointment.
Publishing notice to creditors and waiting for the 4-month claims period to expire.
Paying all valid creditor claims, final income taxes, and any estate taxes owed.
Obtaining court approval to distribute remaining assets to heirs and beneficiaries.
Filing final accounting and petition for discharge with the court.
Final hearing and court order closing the estate, typically 9-18 months after filing.
Our experienced Burbank probate lawyers streamline this process, handling all court filings, notices, and legal requirements so you can focus on your family during this difficult time.
California law sets statutory fees for probate attorneys and executors based on the value of the estate. These fees are the same throughout California, including Glendale. Understanding probate costs helps you plan and make informed decisions about estate administration.
| Estate Value | Attorney Fee | Executor Fee |
|---|---|---|
| First $100,000 | 4% | 4% |
| Next $100,000 | 3% | 3% |
| Next $800,000 | 2% | 2% |
| Next $9,000,000 | 1% | 1% |
| Above $10,000,000 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
Example: For a $500,000 estate in Burbank, the statutory attorney fee would be $13,000 (4% of first $100k + 3% of next $100k + 2% of remaining $300k).
We advance all probate costs upfront, so you pay nothing out of pocket. All fees and costs are paid from the estate assets at the conclusion of the probate case.
While we provide expert probate services, we also help Burbank residents avoid probate in the future through proper estate planning. The best time to plan is now, before probate becomes necessary.
Planning Tip: Even if you're currently going through probate for a loved one's estate, now is the perfect time to create your own estate plan to spare your family from this same process. Our Glendale estate planning attorneys can help you establish a living trust starting at just $575.
While California law doesn't require you to hire a probate attorney, it's highly recommended. Probate is complex with strict legal deadlines, detailed filing requirements, and potential personal liability for executors who make mistakes. An experienced Glendale probate lawyer ensures the process is handled correctly, protects you from liability, and typically completes the probate faster than someone handling it alone. Plus, since attorney fees are paid from the estate assets, not your personal funds, there's no financial reason to go it alone.
In Glendale and throughout California, probate typically takes 9 to 18 months from start to finish. Simple estates with no disputes may be completed in 9-12 months, while complex estates with real property sales, creditor disputes, or will contests can take 18-24 months or longer. California law requires a minimum 4-month creditor claim period, which sets a floor on how quickly probate can be completed. Our experienced probate attorneys work efficiently to complete your case as quickly as possible while ensuring all legal requirements are met.
Yes, there are several ways to avoid probate in California. The most comprehensive method is creating a revocable living trust and properly funding it with your assets. Other methods include holding property in joint tenancy, naming beneficiaries on financial accounts and life insurance, using transfer-on-death deeds for real estate, and keeping the estate value below $184,500 (California's small estate threshold). If you're currently going through probate for a loved one, it's an excellent time to set up your own estate plan to avoid putting your family through this process.
When someone dies without a will in California, it's called dying "intestate." The estate still goes through probate, but assets are distributed according to California's intestate succession laws rather than the deceased person's wishes. Generally, assets go to the closest living relatives: spouse and children first, then parents, siblings, and more distant relatives. As Burbank probate attorneys, we regularly handle intestate estates and can guide you through the process of determining legal heirs and proper distribution under California law.
California uses a statutory fee schedule for probate attorneys and executors. Both the attorney and executor are entitled to fees based on the estate value: 4% of the first $100,000, 3% of the next $100,000, 2% of the next $800,000, 1% of the next $9 million, and 0.5% above $10 million. For example, a $500,000 estate would generate $13,000 in attorney fees and $13,000 in executor fees. Additional costs include court filing fees ($435-$465), publication costs ($150-$300), and probate referee fees (0.1% of asset value). All fees are paid from the estate, not your personal funds.
No, only assets owned solely in the deceased person's name go through probate. Assets that avoid probate include: property held in a living trust, jointly owned property with right of survivorship, life insurance with named beneficiaries, retirement accounts with designated beneficiaries, payable-on-death bank accounts, and real estate with a transfer-on-death deed. If the deceased owned a home solely in their name, bank accounts without beneficiaries, or other solely-owned assets, those must go through probate.
The executor (also called personal representative) is appointed by the court to administer the estate. Responsibilities include: filing the probate petition, inventorying and protecting estate assets, notifying creditors and paying valid debts, filing tax returns, selling assets if necessary, distributing property to beneficiaries, and providing a final accounting to the court. The executor has a fiduciary duty to act in the estate's best interests and can be held personally liable for mistakes. That's why most executors hire experienced probate attorneys to guide them through the process.
While you can represent yourself in probate court, it's generally not advisable. California probate law is complex, with strict deadlines, technical filing requirements, and potential personal liability for errors. Even small mistakes can result in significant delays, additional costs, or legal liability. Since probate attorney fees are paid from the estate assets at the standard statutory rate, you don't save money by representing yourself - you simply take on all the legal risk and work yourself. Our Burbank probate attorneys handle everything for you while protecting you from liability.
In Glendale and throughout California, probate attorney fees are set by statute based on the estate value, not by the attorney's hourly rate. This means all qualified probate attorneys charge the same statutory fee: 4% of the first $100,000, 3% of the next $100,000, 2% of the next $800,000, and so on. For a $400,000 estate, the attorney fee would be $11,000. The key difference between attorneys isn't cost, but experience, efficiency, and service quality. We advance all costs upfront, so you pay nothing out of pocket until the estate closes.
Real estate owned solely by the deceased must go through probate in California. The property is included in the estate inventory and appraisal. If the will directs the property be distributed to specific beneficiaries, it can be transferred to them after creditor claims are resolved. If the property needs to be sold to pay debts or per the will's terms, the executor must obtain court approval before selling. Our Burbank probate attorneys handle all aspects of probate real estate, including obtaining court approval for sales, coordinating with realtors, and ensuring proper title transfers.
Our probate law firm is conveniently located in Burbank at 450 N Brand Blvd, Suite 600, just blocks from the Burbank Courthouse at 600 E Broadway. This proximity allows us to efficiently handle all court appearances, filings, and hearings on your behalf.
We proudly serve probate clients throughout Los Angeles County, including:
Probate cases for Burbank residents are filed at the Burbank Courthouse, officially known as the Los Angeles Superior Court - Glendale Courthouse. Our extensive experience with this court, its procedures, and its staff enables us to provide more efficient service to our Glendale probate clients.