Probate Attorney in Fontana, California

In Fontana, California, probate is the process through which a Court determines if a will is valid or not.

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As part of this process, the Fontana, California probate court will determine the validity of the will, inventory the decedent's assets and debts, and then, finally, distribute the estate according to the will, assuming it is found to be valid.

Most wills name a specific person as the executor of the estate, but sometimes they don't, or the named executor is dead, out of the court's jurisdiction, or otherwise unfit to serve in this capacity. In these cases, a Fontana, California probate court has to appoint one.

Because the executor is responsible for actually initiating probate proceedings and seeing them to completion, the person chosen for this role is often the one who stands to inherit the most from the will - giving them an incentive to put in the necessary time and effort.

Duties of the Executor in Fontana, California

The executor has many duties concerning the will. First, they have to actually initiate the probate proceedings, which must be completed before the will is effectuated.

Additionally, the executor has to make sure that the decedent's relatives and other people named in the will have notice of the testator's death, usually through the filing of a copy of the official death certificate.

Because people who stand to inherit from the testator may be scattered around the country, or even the world, contacting them is sometimes difficult. One of the responsibilities of the executor is to compile a list of everyone who is entitled to inherit from the decedent, so attempts to contact them can be made. They also have to account for all the testator's debts and assets.

Finally, executors have to actually put forth the effort to prove that a will is valid. As the sole legal representative of the estate, this is their job, and is required for them to inherit, giving them an incentive.

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How Can A Fontana, California Lawyer Help?

Because this process can be fairly complicated, it is not a bad idea to consult with a good probate lawyer in Fontana, California, especially if you find yourself as the executor of an estate and don't know how to proceed.

There are 25 Wills, Trusts and Estates cases posted in Fontana

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Life in Fontana

Fontana, California is known as a central hub for the trucking industry because Interstate 10, State Route 210 and Interstate 15 surround it.  Fontana lies in San Bernardino County, California.  The area is famous for its history, with a historic regional park, theater, and the Kaiser Steel Mill.  Alongside history, Fontana is also home to runners all over California because Fontana hosts the Fontana Days Half Marathon and the 5K run.  This race is known all over the world as the fastest marathon course!

Fontana is home to approximately 196,069 residents, which includes a diverse population of African Americans, Caucasians, Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Latinos.  With so many people, naturally Fontana would offer many cultural, sports, and recreation activities.  These activities include the Center Stage Theater, Art Depot, Auto Club Speedway and Fontana Park. 

Fontana's main industry is the trucking industry.  Therefore the city is home to many truck dealerships and equipment sales centers.  Legal services are available to support this industry via small law offices in Fontana that have excellent attorneys.  For larger firms or extensive legal representation, the industry and residents of Fontana have available the many law firms that are located in nearby Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga. 

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Top Rated Lawyers

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Wills, Trusts and Estates cases posted in Fontana as mapped below.

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