Experienced California Attorneys Assist Clients with Trust and Estate Administration
EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS OFFER PROBATE ESTATE ADMINISTRATION SERVICES IN CALIFORNIA
To maximize the value of an estate in probate or another administration process, executors and administrators may find it helpful to contact an established law firm with extensive experience in estate administration. At Roehl & Glowacki, P.C., our attorneys advise clients serving as executors or administrators regarding accurate and complete compliance with all aspects of estate administration. If you are appointed as either an executor or administrator of a decedent's probate estate, you will benefit from sound legal guidance so you are not held personally liable for losses in the value of estate assets due to errors resulting from lack of information. We guide individuals in the Orange County area and throughout California through probate and estate administration with confidence and efficiency.
THOROUGH ADVOCATES GUIDE CLIENTS THROUGH EVERY STEP OF THE PROBATE PROCESS
When a loved one dies, the estate may need to go through probate (estate) administration. Probate court proceedings provide the legal means for distribution of the deceased’s assets held outside of a trust to the beneficiaries. It is the responsibility of the personal representative (which is called an executor, if there is a will, or an administrator, if no will exists) to complete numerous tasks, including:
- Obtaining court appointment as executor or administrator;
- Posting bond;
- Filing all necessary paperwork with the court;
- Seeking out and notifying all named beneficiaries and potential heirs;
- Locating and managing estate assets;
- Taking inventory of the deceased’s assets and appraising them;
- Paying the decedent’s legitimate debts;
- Paying current and delinquent taxes as well as estate taxes;
- Preparing and filing necessary tax returns for the decedent and the estate; and
- Distributing the assets appropriately.
Often, executors or administrators are not experienced with the probate process. We provide focused guidance to help court appointed executors or administrators to navigate the administration process and discharge their duties appropriately. At Roehl & Glowacki, P.C., our goal is for you to settle your loved one’s estate as efficiently, quickly, and easily as possible.
RELIABLE ATTORNEYS ADVISE TRUSTEES IN ORANGE COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA
At Roehl & Glowacki, P.C., our attorneys advise clients in the Orange County area and throughout California on carrying out with all aspects of trust administration, properly and thoroughly. Trustees can benefit from sound legal guidance to avoid personal liability for losses in the value of trust assets due to errors resulting from lack of information. We guide individuals through trust administration with confidence and efficiency. We handle numerous trust administration matters, ranging from simple to complex, including litigated trust administration matters. In the event of incapacity, Roehl & Glowacki, P.C. provides guidance navigating conservatorship administration and litigation which may be appropriate in addition to trust administration.
REPUTABLE LAW FIRM COUNSELS TRUSTEES ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
Once a grantor establishes a trust, either they or a reliable fiduciary must act as trustee. In California, the trustee is responsible for completing necessary tasks according to state law and the terms of the trust. The attorneys at Roehl & Glowacki, P.C. advise trustees regarding their duties related to trust administration, including:
- Communication with beneficiaries;
- Preparation and service of all notices required by law;
- Marshaling and valuing trust assets;
- Management of assets, including real property;
- Collection from debtors and payment of creditors;
- Preparation of accountings;
- Preparation of tax returns by appropriate tax professionals; and
- Distributions to beneficiaries.
KNOWLEDGEABLE COUNSELORS HANDLE A WIDE VARIETY OF TRUSTS
There are many different types of trusts, each with its own combination of provisions. We are well-versed in matters related to both common and less frequently encountered trusts, including:
- Living trusts;
- Irrevocable trusts;
- Probate Avoidance trusts;
- Credit shelter or bypass trusts;
- Generation-skipping trusts;
- Qualified Terminable Interest Property (QTIP) trusts;
- Qualified Personal Residence Trusts (QPRT);
- Charitable remainder trusts; and
- Irrevocable life insurance trusts.
If you have been named as a trustee, engaging legal counsel is beneficial. The attorneys at Roehl & Glowacki, P.C. provide highly ethical representation to trustees. We support trustees during every step of the trust administration process to ensure proper administration while minimizing expense and maximizing value for the beneficiaries.
ACCOMPLISHED ATTORNEYS REPRESENT CLIENTS IN RESOLVING ESTATE and trust DISPUTES
In the probate of wills and administration of trusts, disputes sometimes arise when:
- The validity of a will or trust is contested.
- The competency or actions of a trustee or personal representative of a probate estate is challenged.
- A trustee or personal representative acts in a manner inconsistent with instructions in a trust or will.
Even in seemingly straightforward probate and trust administration matters, disputes among beneficiaries, or between beneficiaries and the trustee or personal representative, can arise. When these conflicts surface, you can count on our sound counsel and professionalism in negotiations or in court proceedings.
Whenever possible, we seek to apply alternative dispute resolution methods, including mediation. When these prove ineffective, we do not hesitate to achieve our clients’ objectives through litigation.
Contact a reliable California trust administration law firm
The trust administration process can feel overwhelming for individuals unfamiliar with estate law. Our attorneys can help to ease the burden for clients in California. To schedule a consultation with Roehl & Glowacki, P.C., call our Laguna Hills office at 949-313-8174 or contact us online.
