Probate - The Law Offices of Eric A. Rudolph P.C.

Probate and Estate Planning

As a Palm Springs estate planning attorney, I've seen firsthand how the probate process can impact people. When a loved one passes away in California without an estate plan, their assets often go through probate - a court-supervised process that can be difficult, confusing, lengthy and expensiveProbate typically takes 12 to 18 months, but can extend to years for complicated estates or if a dispute arises. This lengthy process can be emotionally draining.Probate costs often range from 3% to 7% of the total estate [...]

September 30th, 2024|Probate|

Slayer Statute: You Won’t Profit From the Will if you Kill

California law says, “No one can take advantage of his or her own wrongdoing”. The California Probate Code punishes those who commit murder under the California Slayer Statute.

May 13th, 2024|Estate Planning, Probate|

The Pros and Cons of Probate

The word “probate” often causes a severely negative reaction. For many people — especially those with large estates — estate planning attorneys recommend keeping property out of probate whenever possible. The probate system was ultimately established to protect property, and protect those people entitled to inherit it. In a few cases, probate may even work to an advantage.

April 15th, 2024|Estate Administration, Estate Planning, Probate|

How to Avoid Probate

It is very important to avoid probate. You may think that a Last Will avoids probate after you pass away – but it does not. Everyone pictures a scene out of a movie where the executor reads the Will to the family, and then everyone gets their inheritance. It is never that simple!

April 3rd, 2024|Estate Administration, Estate Planning, Probate|