Prompt and Experienced Representation in Probate Court
East Bay probate attorney Michelle McKenna provides efficient and dependable client service for executors and personal representatives in the discharge of their estate administration responsibilities. To learn how you can benefit from her experience and understanding of probate procedures in Contra Costa County and elsewhere around the San Francisco Bay area, contact the Law Office of Thomas F. McKenna in Walnut Creek.
Our law firm advises and represents clients responsible for the administration of decedents' estates. For most people entrusted with the probate and execution of a will or for handling an intestate estate (if there is no will), the rules are unfamiliar and the duties can seem daunting. Probate is a tedious paper driven process that is complex and time consuming, especially for the person who is unfamiliar with California probate law and local court procedures. An experienced probate lawyer can help you avoid mistakes and achieve the essential goals of probate: to get the assets into the hands of heirs and beneficiaries as quickly as possible while avoiding liability.
We represent both local and out-of-state clients in probate of wills and estate administration. For most estates with a named executor or next of kin who live far from San Francisco or Oakland, we can advise you and handle your practical responsibilities without the need for you to return to the Bay Area. Among the duties we take care of are the following:
- Opening the estate by probate court petition
- Establishing the validity of the will
- Evaluating and resolving the claims of the estate's creditors
- Preparing the Inventory and Appraisal
- Distributing assets to heirs and beneficiaries
- Assisting with the sale of estate assets
- Filing the final report and closing the estate
For estates where the decedent died without a will, we will advise you about the rules of California intestate succession, which provide a formula for dividing assets among heirs and the surviving spouse, if any.
Without complications, the probate of a California will or the administration of an intestate estate will usually take a minimum of seven months. Any mistake, oversight or dispute along the way can delay this process considerably. To make sure that your probate duties are discharged properly the first time around and to avoid liability, obtain the advice of an experienced estate administration lawyer. Contact Michelle McKenna of Thomas McKenna in Walnut Creek.
