Probate and trust administration
After the funeral, the paperwork
If you've been named executor or trustee, you have a job you didn't ask for. We do most of it with you, and tell you what's next before you have to ask.
When there's a trust, we help the trustee notify the family, gather the accounts, sell or transfer the house and hand out what's left. When there's only a will, or nothing at all, the estate goes through probate court, and we prepare and file every step.
Either way, you get a one-page update every month, in English or in Spanish, until the last check is written.
The steps
An estate, from first call to last check
- 01
Step 1: Read what was left
We look at the will or trust, the deed and the accounts, and tell you whether court is needed.
- 02
Step 2: Open the estate
We file the petition or send the trust notices, and get you the authority to act for the estate.
- 03
Step 3: Gather and protect
Accounts, the house, the car, the mail. We list everything and keep it safe and insured.
- 04
Step 4: Pay what's owed
Notices to creditors, final bills and the last tax returns, with an accountant where needed.
- 05
Step 5: Hand it out
A final accounting the family can read, then distribution, and the estate is closed.
Settling an estate: common questions
Does every estate go to probate?
No. Property held in a trust, accounts with named beneficiaries and things owned jointly usually pass without court. Small estates may qualify for a simpler process. We'll tell you at the first meeting.
How long will it take?
A simple trust can wrap up in a few months. Probate usually takes a year or more, mostly waiting on the court and on creditor deadlines. We give you a timeline at the start and update it as we go.
Can I be executor if I live out of state?
Often, yes, though some courts ask for a bond or a local agent. Much of the work can be done by phone, mail and video with us.
Who pays your fee?
Usually the estate, not you personally. We put the fee and how it's figured in writing before we start.
Named executor? Start here
Bring the will or trust if you have it, and the death certificate. We'll map out the next three months with you.