The probate process involves analyzing and distributing a deceased person’s assets to their heirs or nominated beneficiaries, authenticating their will. It’s essential for those who want to safeguard their loved one’s financial stability.
However, the law that governs this proceeding is one of the most sensitive branches of legal practice. When probate takes place, families are often dealing with the pain of their losses. Therefore, these cases must be handled with compassion, diplomacy, assertiveness, and professionalism.
Fortunately, that’s what you can find at Von Rock Law. Our probate attorneys are compassionate and empathetic. In addition, our team is committed to defending and respecting your rights.
If you need a probate attorney in San Mateo, CA, call us today for a free consultation!
Probate is a legal proceeding intended to authenticate a deceased person’s will, confirming who has authority over their estate and distributing their assets after death.
Many people hire attorneys to handle this process. After settling the deceased individual’s debts, these lawyers meet with potential beneficiaries to distribute the remaining property and money.
Is it necessary to hire a probate lawyer? If you constantly worry about your loved ones’ future, working with these professionals is the best thing you can do to prepare.
Probate courts must intervene and take charge of these cases when there is no authorized lawyer. However, this means your family may not receive their share of your assets on time.
Court proceedings are tedious and time-consuming, adding more stress and frustration to those already mourning a loss. However, you can avoid this overwhelming experience and make the process more straightforward if you choose the right probate lawyer to handle your estate’s legal and financial aspects.
At Von Rock Law, we understand that the probate process can make dealing with a loved one’s death even more difficult. However, we’re committed to making it easier and more manageable for your family. This is what we can do:
Probate courts need time to settle the estate, as there are usually long waiting lists for similar cases. The risk is that your assets may decrease in value during the waiting period.
However, a probate lawyer can handle all financial and legal matters related to your estate after your death in a shorter period. We’re committed to delivering your belongings to your loved ones as soon as possible!
Unfortunately, many families face conflict after a loved one dies if a relative is against the deceased individual’s wishes.
However, if you authorize a lawyer to handle your estate after you’re gone, you can ensure your wishes will be respected, even if someone contests the will.
The costs of going through a probate court are high, especially if several issues affect the process. Hiring a probate lawyer is often more affordable. In most cases, you only have to pay a one-time fee.
The probate process can be overwhelming—most people who have to deal with it are also grieving. However, at Von Rock Law, we want to help your loved ones handle it and give them the peace of mind they deserve during difficult times.
Contact Von Rock Law today, find a reputable probate attorney in San Mateo, CA, and get a free consultation!
In short, yes. Death is unavoidable. An estate plan protects not only your family and assets, but will also give you peace of mind that your assets will be properly managed when you are gone.
An estate plan created by Von Rock Law is a solution to protecting and preserving your estate in the case that you die or become incapacitated. It contains the following legal documents:
A legal document that places some or all of your assets in the control of a trust during your lifetime
A legal declaration of a person’s wishes regarding the disposal of their property or estate after death
A durable power of attorney refers to a power of attorney which typically remains in effect until the death of the principal or until the document is revoked. A durable power of attorney, the durability of which must be explicitly stated, remains valid even in the event the principal is unable to make personal decisions due to incapacity.
A legal document that explains how you want medical decisions about you to be made if you cannot make the decisions yourself. An advance directive lets your health care team and loved ones know what kind of health care you want, or who you want to make decisions for you when you can’t.
An estate plan not only ensures your family and assets are protected in the case you die or become incapacitated, but it also helps your estate avoid being subjected to probate, a long and costly process.
Our Custom Estate Plan is a comprehensive trust-based estate plan which is appropriate for most estates including those with minor children or other minor beneficiaries, for those requiring protections for beneficiaries and for blended families. This estate plan works toward eliminating probate court proceedings, appointing successors to manage the Trust after your death, and directs the distribution of your assets.
One 30 minute consultation meeting by telephone, video conference or in person
Revocable Living Trust
Certification of Living Trust
Last Will & Testament **
Durable Power of Attorney **
Advanced Health Care Directive **
Authorization of Release of Medical Records (“HIPAA”) **
Assignment of Personal Property **
Personal Property Memorandum **
Trust Transfer Deed (one property)
Recording Deed with county recorder
One opportunity to request edits to above documents with respect to client-provided information
Recording fees included
Preliminary Change of Ownership Report
Final signing meeting
Complete instructions regarding plan
Notary fees included
Personalized estate planning binder with all original documents
Digital PDF copies of your entire plan
Additional Deeds with ancillary documents and recording fees begin at $1000 for California properties and for out of state US properties, subject to confirmation of non-California recording fees.
Up to five hours with our staff for emails, phone calls, zooms or in person meetings to address your questions regarding the maintenance of your estate plan, funding, coordination with agents, potential amendments, family meetings or other ongoing trust maintenance concerns.
A 5% discount on billable matters for which you may further retain us, such as drafting additional plan documents and amendments, or for another practice area.
Deluxe custom estate plans are appropriate for individuals with substantial assets and sophisticated planning needs, and who require estate tax planning features for estates exceeding the estate tax threshold of $12,060,000 for individuals or $24,120,000 in community property for married couples. These plans include all of the offerings of the Custom Estate plan, but will also address such circumstances such as complicated blended families, citizenship issues, multiple real estate holdings, multiple beneficiary designations, integrated special needs trusts, or otherwise more sophisticated distribution plans.
We are offer a college care plan that will allow parents to still be able to act for their 18+ children for medical, financial and legal purposes, and to distribute the child’s assets should the child pre-decease the parent. This plan includes a Durable Power of Attorney, Advance Health Care Directive, HIPAA and Simple Will which identifies not more than two beneficiaries with outright inheritance. Further, this plan includes a generic FERPA Consent Form that will authorize parents to communicate with a college regarding the student’s classes, transcripts, grades and more. Many educational institutions will have their own forms for this Consent which may be required, but if not, our standard form should be accepted.
This plan includes a 30 minute consultation and the cost of online notary fees arranged by this office. Digital and paper copies of the plan documents will be provided.
Estate Plan revisions are provided on an hourly basis and estimates of the projected cost are provided to the client before work commences. Simple revisions to Estate Plans are often in the 2 – 3 hour range, with more complex revisions taking longer, bearing in mind that each circumstance is unique.
PLEASE NOTE – We will not amend plans that we did not draft. We will prepare re-statements of Trusts and new documents for planning documents we did not generate.