Usually, when a person becomes involved in a lawsuit in a particular jurisdiction, it is because they live or work there or have another significant connection to the area. However, probate cases must be filed in the county where the deceased lived. This means that often the person named as the executor and creditors and beneficiaries of the estate may live in a different county, state, or even across the country.
In some probate cases, distance may not present many obstacles. However, when there are will contests, trust management disputes, or other types of conflict regarding the administration of the estate, it helps to have a local attorney you can trust. At Hackard Law, our team of estate litigation attorneys represents out-of-state clients in Palo Alto who are dealing with estate disputes on a regular basis.
In addition to will contests and trust management disputes, our Palo Alto attorneys can represent non-residents who are named executors or appointed administrators in the estate or trust administration of a person who died in California. Probate is the court-supervised process of administering the estate of a person who has passed away. This process begins by simply opening a probate case in the appropriate court. Once this is complete, a judge will be assigned to the case to review and approve the accounting filed by the estate administrator.
Opening an estate in probate does not have to be complicated, but it helps the process run more smoothly if everything is well-prepared and filed correctly. An experienced attorney in Palo Alto can assist out-of-state clients with gathering the necessary materials, making the appropriate filings, and representing them when required before the probate judge. Sometimes, a probate court may require a personal representative to be physically present to open an estate or trust administration. However, lawyers are often able to act as representatives in court instead or to help accomplish necessary tasks remotely.
During the administration of an estate, disputes may arise for several reasons. Some of the most common include:
Because estate challenges have to do with the loss of a loved one, they can be particularly stressful and add to the burden grieving families are already carrying. Having the guidance of a trusted legal team to provide advice about estate challenge issues becomes even more valuable in these situations.
In many cases, out-of-state clients may never need to travel to California for estate litigation matters. However, for some issues, a Palo Alto probate court might require a party to testify in person if it becomes necessary during an estate litigation proceeding. However, a legal team that helps out-of-state individuals in Palo Alto may be able to arrange for these responsibilities and many others to be handled remotely or by the attorneys so that multiple trips or long visits are not required, minimizing costs and schedule disruptions.
Estate or probate litigation can drag administrators and beneficiaries into disputes that they did not want or expect to have to take part in. With family inheritances and personal issues involved, it can be hard to know who to trust, especially if you aren’t physically present where the case is taking place.
At Hackard Law, our estate litigation legal team has years of experience representing out-of–state clients in Palo Alto. Our attorneys treat each client with care and give attention to the specific details in each case to provide guidance during a challenging time. Reach out to us today to set up a free consultation.
(916) 313-3030