Los Angeles Estate Administration Attorney

To tackle estate administration, you should know what is expected:

• Inventory estate assets
• Communicate with creditors and taxing authorities
• Pay taxes and other debts of the decedent
• Make payments for various services – professional appraisals, tax preparers, and attorneys
• Distribute the estate assets to the rightful beneficiaries

This is California—whatever you do:

• Don’t make payments, distributions, or buy or sell asset without first securing court approval
• Don’t fail to follow court-approved procedures when selling or liquidating estate assets

Securing court approval for routine expenses or the sale of assets slows things down but is essential to properly probating an estate.

• Don’t act as executor or administrator before being formally appointed by the court. Being nominated as executor in a Will may not be enough for the court, particularly when it comes to larger estates. The court may choose to “vet” you to ensure you can handle the administrative responsibility.

Word of Advice

• Be cognizant of applicable deadlines for executors in California. Executors and Administrators must not only inventory and appraise the estate but do it within certain specific deadlines.
• Be sure to identify and notify all creditors and beneficiaries in and out of California.
• Work with an attorney to determine if you can be appointed by the court with “full authority” which will allow the probate process to proceed in an smoother and faster process.

In California, the probate process ensures that all creditors and beneficiaries/heirs secure what they are entitled to receive before an estate is officially closed. Creditors that show up after the estate is closed can still file for payment. As an estate executor or administrator, you do not want to find yourself on the wrong end of a lawsuit.