Avoiding Probate - It is Possible!

Estate Planning Lawyer in Thousand Oaks, CA

Some people may believe that it is impossible to avoid probate. However, if you create or give certain types of trusts, accounts, gifts, and/or ownerships, you may minimize the probate court's involvement, or avoid the probate process entirely. If your estate qualifies as a small estate, you may be given shortcuts through probate, or evade probate of your estate entirely.

In order to learn more about how to avoid probate, talk to an experienced estate planning attorney with Pederson Law Offices today. Our attorneys can construct an estate plan that will ensure certain properties and assets do not go through probate.

Contact a Thousand Oaks estate planning attorney from our firm today at (805) 495-3444 to learn more!

How can it be done?

Revocable living trusts are just one type of trust that can help you avoid probate. You hold certain assets in a revocable living trust while you are alive, and after you pass away, the property is not considered part of your probate estate. The person or entity that you named as trustee owns the trust property, and they can transfer your assets to the predetermined beneficiaries.

Payable-on-death registrations and accounts may also avoid probate. You can convert your bank and retirement accounts to payable-on-death accounts by filling out simple paperwork and naming a beneficiary. When you die, your beneficiary will receive the money without going through probate.

If you have joint ownership of a property, said property will not have to go through probate upon your death. Your surviving co-owner will automatically receive the property without the hassle of having to complete the probate process. Types of joint ownership include joint tenancy with the right of survivorship and community property with right of survivorship.

Giving away assets and property while you are still alive may also help your family avoid the probate process, but extreme care should be taken, as this could result in adverse tax consequences to the maker or recipients of said gifts. It is similar to a trust. Once you give an item away, you no longer can claim ownership of that asset.

Gifts that are given away cannot be listed in your probate estate. It may be beneficial for you to gift your estate's most expensive items prior to your death, in order to lower possible probate costs. However, be advised that lifetime gifts of assets should never be made without proper guidance from an experienced estate planning attorney.

Contact Pederson Law Offices to Avoid Probate

If you create a proper estate plan, your family may be able to avoid the probate process. A lawyer from our firm is able to advise clients on how to best avoid areas of probate law, while still protecting their assets and providing for their families.

A valid will cannot by itself help you to avoid probate, although it may make the probate process easier. You must have certain types of trusts, accounts, ownerships, or gift assets in order to avoid probate.

To prepare an estate plan so that your loved ones can avoid probate, contact our attorneys at (805) 495-3444 and schedule a free 30-minute consultation.

Our Client Reviews

  • We highly recommend them to both our clients and our friends.

    - Phil

  • They were attentive to my particular situation through every detail and I feel confident in the final product.

    - Sarah

  • They are the ultimate professionals and attention to detail is a priority.

    - Alan

  • They are extremely professional , well organized and always willing to answer any questions.

    - Michelle

  • Grant made the process clear and straightforward.

    - Arturo

  • They’re incredibly responsive, and the entire team is made up of good people who are enjoyable to work with.

    - Ed

  • They are very thorough and professional.

    - Darren

  • We Highly Recommend Grant To all our Friends and Family. We Feel Blessed to have Found Him!

    - Sally

  • They also did an excellent job at taking into account our goals and wishes.

    - Tim

  • Overall an AAA+ experience!

    - Ronald

  • Honest informative and very down to earth.

    - Theresa

  • He listened to my needs, answered my questions and ultimately designed a product that suited my needs.

    - Steve

  • Thank you for making a difficult process seem so easy.

    - Linda

  • Overall, we have been very pleased with the services we received and would definitely recommend them to family and friends.

    - Eunice

  • Very knowledgeable and helpful. Wish I could give more stars, but the system won't let me!

    - William

  • If you're looking for someone to help you with wills, trusts and/or estates, the Pederson Law Office is the place to go.

    - Robin

  • Answered all questions and explained all options clearly and patiently.

    - Lisa

  • Their knowledge and attention to detail was impressive.

    - Andrew

  • You and your staff are great. I would refer you anytime.

    - Leanne

  • I cannot recommend this team enough....don't delay....just get it done with this team!!

    - DeLiese

  • Excellent and easy to work with. Very complete.

    - Michael

  • Grant Pederson and wonderful staff recently fully amended and updated our Living Trust and has done an excellent job!

    - Raul

  • Professional, extremely detail oriented, compassionate and trustworthy.

    - Suzanne

  • My wife and I really like the Pederson Law Office. We would recommend them to our family and friends.

    - Maretno

  • They made a sometimes difficult process quite easy.

    - Tom

  • Grant was extremely efficient and helpful preparing my personal and family trusts.

    - Gerry

  • Grant has supported our family and made sure we were well protected.

    - James

  • We can’t say enough great things about this excellent law office.

    - Vicki

  • Grant Pederson is honest, caring and knowledgeable.

    - Fran

  • You will never get the feeling it's "just a job" at this outstanding, longtime Conejo Valley resident law firm.

    - Greg

  • We have been using their services for nearly 15 years without complaint.

    - Wayne

  • We at no time felt rushed or pressured. He returned our completed documents quickly.

    - Robert

  • Grant was very professional and knowledgeable with all of our questions, and over relatively short time, he had redone a Living Trust that we are very happy with.

    - John

  • He was very personable, professional and knowledgeable, and walked us through the whole process.

    - G.C.

  • Grant Pederson goes above and beyond to make sure your needs are met!

    - D.S.

  • The experience of creating a living trust was excellent with Grant.

    - T.L.

  • We highly recommend Grant and his team for your family's trust needs.

    - D.A.

  • I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone needing the type of services they provide.

    - Anonymous

  • We are glad to have completed the initial planning for what we hope will be an enduring family legacy.

    - Trevor and Karlee

  • We are relieved to know that we have someone there to help us make the right choices for us and our family.

    - C.M.

  • When I let Grant know that I had travel plans, he accelerated work on some documents I wanted to be changed so that they could be ready before I left.

    - Michael

  • He was sympathetic to my concerns and made a difficult situation tolerable. I found Grant to be personable as well as knowledgeable and trustworthy and would definitely recommend him.

    - Anita

Prev Next

Our Lawyers Are Here To Help

Start planning for your future by filling out this easy case evaluation form.

    • Please enter your name.
    • This isn't a valid phone number.
      Please enter your phone number.
    • This isn't a valid email address.
      Please enter your email address.
    • Please make a selection.
    • Please enter a message.