Probate Proceedings

Corona County Probate Attorney 

Probate can be a time consuming, tedious, complicated and costly area of law. Simplify this with the expert legal counsel of Holstrom, Steinberg & Associates, available to residents of Corona County.

Probate is a legal process whereby a court validates the deceased person's will or determines that he or she died without a will. The court also appoints someone to handle the decedent's assets and pay the bills owed at death. That someone is referred to as an executor, administrator, or administrator with the will annexed, depending on the circumstances.

An additional purpose of Probate is to see if anyone was owed money at the time of death, so that creditor(s) can come forward and make a claim to receive payment. Throughout California there is a fixed period of time for creditors to come forward and demand payment.

Along with the payment of debts, the Probate process is designed to see that taxes are paid. Income taxes for the personal income tax return up to the date of death must be paid. Income collected during Probate requires the filing of a separate estate income tax return and the possible payment of tax. If the decedent owned in excess of a certain amount of money, or combined assets, it is possible that a federal estate tax return is required and the tax due must be paid within nine months of the date of death.

Lastly, after all assets of the decedent are collected, assets are sold and taxes and debts are paid, then the executor or administrator must distribute the remaining assets in accordance with the decedent's will or the rules of intestate succession, if the decedent died without a will.

Contact the Corona law firm of Holstrom, Steinberg & Associates and allow us to aggressively protect you and your assets during Probate proceedings in Corona County and surrounding areas.  Contact Us