Probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person's estate. Probate resolves all claims and distributes the deceased person's property, either under a valid will or in the absence of one. The probate court decides on the validity of a testator's (deceased person's) will, interprets the instructions of the deceased, appoints an executor, or personal representative of the estate, and then rules on the interests of heirs and other parties who may have claims against the estate.
At Bezaire, Ledwitz & Borncamp, we offer committed, caring representation to families and individuals throughout Southern California who want to avoid probate. Our Torrance probate attorneys can help you avoid some of the common pitfalls that can happen in probate, such as the following:
- Reassessments of real estate: Our law firm can help your estate avoid potentially costly reassessments.
- The wrong person receiving or controlling your assets: When the probate court makes your estate decisions instead of you, you and your family lose control over your legacy.
- Probate court: Probate court can be a lengthy process and can consume a costly percentage of your estate. Please see the chart below for typical California statutory fees.
We Can Help You With the Probate Process
- Bondsman fees
- Executor fees
- Attorneys fees
- Assets appraisal fees
- Court filing fees
- Publication fees in the local newspaper
- Extraordinary fees
| Total Estate Value | Statutory Attorney's Fees | Statutory Executor's Fees |
| $100,000 | $4,000 | $4,000 |
| $300,000 | $9,000 | $9,000 |
| $500,000 | $13,000 | $13,000 |
| $700,000 | $17,000 | $17,000 |
| $900,000 | $21,000 | $21,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $23,000 | $23,000 |
Larger estates will pay even more.
Through careful planning and active estate administration, we can help you avoid all of these potential issues. We can also help you avoid the time associated with the probate process. It can take well over a year for an estate to make its way through the probate process. Do you really want to subject your loved ones to this uncertainty and waste? Our living trust legal fees are typically a fraction of the money you will save by avoiding probate. Much of our practice involves helping families throughout Southern California prepare effective strategies to minimize the impact of probate. Trusts are an important vehicle to prevent your estate from going through probate. We encourage you to think of trusts as a parachute and your will as the backup parachute. Both are useful to ensure that your family has a happy landing.
Whether you are a trustee or need to file a will contest to challenge an improper will, our experienced attorneys are ready to discuss your needs and represent your interests.
Contact the Pasadena Probate Litigation Attorneys of Bezaire, Ledwitz & Borncamp
Call 310.817.6043, toll free at 877.504.0319, or contact our Southern California probate law firm today to schedule your free initial consultation. Our lawyers maintain offices in Torrance, West Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pasadena and San Dimas. We speak numerous languages in addition to English, such as French, Hungarian and Mandarin.
