E-Book Overview
The tasks required to fulfill probate responsibilities vary with the extent and complexity of the estate, as well as from state to state. This book guides the process of probate under California law and includes changes that have occurred recently with the meeting of the state legislature. Easy-to-use, blank tear-out forms make this book a valuable tool for anyone who is placed in the position of probating an estate. Information concerning handling creditor's claims, petitioning for hearings, taking inventory of the estate's assets, selling the estate property and handling of tax issues are all covered in this new text. Of particular interest in this book is information concerning the protection of the deceased's family--what rights the living have and which laws apply to those rights.
E-Book Content
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Includes: • Suggestions for protecting the family • Detailed non-probate assets guidance • Tax information
ESTATE in CALIFORNIA
• Suggestions for the personal representative
Douglas Godbe John J. Talamo Attorneys at Law
HOW TO PROBATE AND SETTLE AN ESTATE IN CALIFORNIA Douglas Godbe John Talamo Attorneys at Law
SPHINX PUBLISHING ®
AN IMPRINT OF SOURCEBOOKS, INC.® NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS
www.SphinxLegal.com
Copyright © 2001 by Douglas Godbe and John Talamo Cover design © 2001 by Sourcebooks, Inc.™ All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc. Purchasers of the book are granted a license to use the forms contained herein for their own personal use. No claim of copyright is made to any official government forms reproduced herein.
First edition, 2001 Second Printing, September, 2002 Published by: Sphinx® Publishing, A Division of Sourcebooks, Inc.® Naperville Office P.O. Box 4410 Naperville, Illinois 60567-4410 630-961-3900 Fax: 630-961-2168 www.sourcebooks.com www.SphinxLegal.com This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. From a Declaration of Principles Jointly Adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations
This product is not a substitute for legal advice. Disclaimer required by Texas statutes.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Godbe, Douglas, 1951How to probate and settle an estate in California / Douglas Godbe, John Talamo.-- 1st ed. p. cm.— (Legal survival guides) Includes index. ISBN 1-57248-145-5 1. Probate law and practice—California—Popular works. I. Talamo, John II. Title. III. Series. KFC205.Z9 G63 2001 346.79405'2--dc21
2001020819
Printed and bound in the United States of America. VHG Paperback — 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
CONTENTS
USING SELF-HELP LAW BOOKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii INTRODUCTION . .