The
California Probate Code is the law that regulates all property
transfers from one person to another in the state, due to death or
other reasons. While some of the statutes found in the Code can fall
in the realm of “common knowledge”, the Code actually consists of
at least 11 Divisions tackling a myriad of details. These include
specific matters like judicial proceedings for trust funds,
distinguishing “trustees” from “beneficiaries”, and even the
right way of writing a last will and testament.
Such
specifics may be too complicated for someone without a legal
background, and this is one reason why hiring a Sacramento
estate planning attorney is very important. The lawyer can also
assist in the application and administration of trust funds, which
normally have to go through the court system. Small families can also
avoid the entire probate process with the help of an estate planning
attorney, provided their combined assets meet the criteria for
exemption.
An
estate planning attorney can also help in identifying the right type
of trust fund that a person should create. Some trust funds, like
irrevocable trusts, can facilitate the process of transferring
property ownership, while others, like marital trust funds, can offer
tax exemptions.
