Best Probate Attorneys in Auburn, CA

How can you avoid probate? First, have a joint owner on your accounts. For example, you are married, both names are on the account and when one partner passes, the money stays in the account and goes to the surviving partner. Second, if you have a trust, make sure that bank account or other financial assets are listed in your trust. This will ensure that when you are both gone (assuming you’re married) that your money will actually make it to your beneficiaries. Another way to make sure your property is included in your trust is to name it as a beneficiary designation. This means naming the trust as a beneficiary of that account. Let’s talk about real estate. You need to retitle the house from your name as an individual into your name as trustee of your trust. If our office handled your trust, we’ve already done this for you. If you had a trust done online, they did not do this and you need to have it done. Your trust name needs to be put on your deed. Otherwise, your real estate is not what’s called in trust. Businesses are next. If you have a business and it’s close to or worth more than $180,000, it’s best to contact your business attorney and let them know you have a trust and that you want your shares to be assigned, reassigned or issued in the name of the trust. Lastly, if you see the word estate listed in any document, as a beneficiary - that means probate. You want it to, instead, read trust or named individuals/charities.