Trusts: If the deceased had a trust, you will not need to go through probate. Trusts are created to allow the deceased's family and friends to inherit without having to go through the long and expensive probate process.
If you would like to become the executor of an estate without a will, here are some basic steps to follow. Determine Priority for Appointment. Usually, the first in line to serve as executor is the surviving spouse or children. Complete a Petition for Administration. Receive Court Appointment and Administer Estate.
Open a case You (the person who starts the case) are called the “petitioner." You must file forms with the court to “open probate.” You file a Petition for Probate (form DE-111) along with other court forms. File the case in the county where the person who died (the decedent) lived.
In California, there's no strict deadline for filing probate after death, but it's advisable to begin the process as soon as possible. Delays in filing can lead to complications, such as the estate's assets becoming unmanageable or creditors taking legal action to collect debts.
You can appoint anyone you want as executor. It doesn't even have to be a family member. It can be your best friend, a lawyer,anyone that you trust to do the right thing. Inform them what you have done so they want be blindsided. It's your choice if you want to tell anyone else who your executor will be.
The probate petition typically consists of an application to be officially appointed as the executor, the death certificate, and the original will. A petitioner must ask the probate court to officially be appointed as the executor regardless of whether the decedent's will has named them as an executor.
The Executor is normally nominated in the Will but it is the court who formally appoints the Executor after a noticed hearing. See our article on Probate. 2. If no Executor is nominated in the Will, the court appoints an “Administrator” who performs the same function, usually a relative.