Skip to content
  • Call 24/7 (602) 910-4068
Contact Us
  • 24/7

(602) 932-3187

estate planning law firm
  • Home
  • Start Here
    • Becoming a Client
    • Our Story
    • Our Approach & Values
    • Meet the Team
    • Client Testimonials
  • PROTECT MY FAMILY
    • Estate Planning
    • Wills and Trusts
    • Power of Attorney
    • Deeds & Real Estate Transfers
  • Specialized Planning
    • Minor Children
    • Special Needs Trusts
    • Asset Protection Planning
    • Irrevocable Trusts
  • Elder Care
    • Long term Care
    • Medicaid (ALTCS)
    • Guardianship
  • Probate
    • Do I Need Probate?
    • Avoiding Probate
    • Trust Administration
  • Business Planning
    • Business Formations
    • Business Succession Planning
    • Operating Agreements
    • Employment Agreements
  • Resources
    • Estate Planning Blog
      • Estate Planning
      • Elder Law
      • Probate
      • Business Succession
      • Guardianship
    • Videos & Recordings
    • Seminars & Webinars
    • Free Estate Planning Masterclass
    • Educational Library
    • Estate Planning Resources For Professional Advisors
    • FAQs
    • Media Room
  • Contact Us
    • Schedule Strategy Session
    • Office Locations
  • Home
  • Start Here
    • Becoming a Client
    • Our Story
    • Our Approach & Values
    • Meet the Team
    • Client Testimonials
  • PROTECT MY FAMILY
    • Estate Planning
    • Wills and Trusts
    • Power of Attorney
    • Deeds & Real Estate Transfers
  • Specialized Planning
    • Minor Children
    • Special Needs Trusts
    • Asset Protection Planning
    • Irrevocable Trusts
  • Elder Care
    • Long term Care
    • Medicaid (ALTCS)
    • Guardianship
  • Probate
    • Do I Need Probate?
    • Avoiding Probate
    • Trust Administration
  • Business Planning
    • Business Formations
    • Business Succession Planning
    • Operating Agreements
    • Employment Agreements
  • Resources
    • Estate Planning Blog
      • Estate Planning
      • Elder Law
      • Probate
      • Business Succession
      • Guardianship
    • Videos & Recordings
    • Seminars & Webinars
    • Free Estate Planning Masterclass
    • Educational Library
    • Estate Planning Resources For Professional Advisors
    • FAQs
    • Media Room
  • Contact Us
    • Schedule Strategy Session
    • Office Locations

What Is Probate and How Does It Work?

Serving Clients in the Gilbert, Arizona Area

What Is Probate and How Does It Work?
  • July 21, 2021
  • Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Probate
Gilbert Arizona estate planning attorney

BY: Jake Carlson

Jake Carlson is an estate planning attorney, recognized business leader, inspiring presenter, and popular podcast host. He is personable and connects immediately with others. A natural storyteller, he loves listening to your story and exploring what matters most to you.

Get To Know Jake
Please Share!
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Probate survives as a procedure originally implemented by the King of England to protect his citizens from themselves and their greed.
  • Scroll Down to Read Article

Probate is a legal process created long ago to protect the interests of a person after their death. It establishes a documented, validated, formal court procedure to establish title (ownership) and transfer ownership of a deceased person’s assets, as described in a recent article “Probate still gets lots of questions” from the Pauls Valley Democrat.

Probate accomplishes several goals. One is to fulfill the intentions of the decedent and follow the directions expressed in a written valid will. Another is to prevent the improper acquisition of assets by self-serving heirs or claimants. It provides a formal process to capture and control assets and document them. It also provides for the distribution of all assets in the estate, as directed by the decedent.

A petition is typically filed with the local district court in the county where the person resided at death. It confirms the jurisdiction of the court and defines the scope of the estate. This includes:

  • Fact of death and name of the decedent, included in the original copy of the death certificate
  • Residency of the decedent
  • Whether there was a will (original will is filed with the court)
  • Name of the executor or personal representative
  • Names of all potential heirs
  • The approximate size and scope of the estate

After documents are filed, a hearing takes place and formal notice is provided to all known heirs and to the public. This is where probate becomes problematic. Any known heirs who are notified may not always be named in the will and could bring claims against the estate. Any person who wishes to find out the size and scope of the estate may do so. This often brings creditors and predators into the process. Many scammers rely on probate notices to find fresh victims.

While the traditional goals of providing an open and fair opportunity to gain notice of the person’s death may have worked well in the past, today they often provide an opportunity for disgruntled relatives and thieves.

For this reason, many families prefer to take some or all assets from the estate and place them within the protection of a revocable living trust. Assets placed in a trust do not go through probate and will not be mentioned in a will. The trustee is charged with administering and distributing assets in a trust. There is no court involvement. Trusts may also be used during a person’s lifetime, as well as after they have died.

Other assets not governed by probate are those with beneficiary designations. Insurance policies, retirement accounts and investment accounts are among the types of assets distributed directly to the beneficiary without court involvement.

An estate planning attorney takes the best of these old English laws and blends them with our modern realities and current tax laws.

To learn more about estate planning in the East Valley, Arizona, Gilbert, Mesa and Queen Creek, schedule your free consultation with Attorney Jake Carlson by using one of the links above.

Reference: Pauls Valley Democrat (June 3, 2021) “Probate still gets lots of questions”

PrevPreviousHow are Charitable Contributions Used to Reduce Estate Taxes?
NextWhat Taxes are Due When Children Inherit Home?Next
Subscribe!

Recent Posts
  • Protecting Your Business with Life Insurance
  • Managing a House After a Relative’s Death
  • How Does a No-Contest Clause Protect Your Will?
  • How to Talk with Children About a Grandparent with Dementia
  • Protect Your Parents’ Savings From Nursing Home Expenses
Categories
  • Advanced Directives
  • ALTCs
  • Alzheimer's Disease
  • Asset Protection
  • Business Formations
  • Business Succession
  • Charitable Planning
  • Dementia
  • Elder Law
  • Estate Administration
  • Estate Planning
  • Estate Tax
  • Guardianship
  • Life Insurance
  • Medicaid
  • Medicare
  • News
  • Power of Attorney
  • Probate
  • Retirement
  • Social Security
  • Special Needs
  • Trust Administration
  • Uncategorized
  • Wills & Trusts

Contact Us

All fields marked with an “ * ” are required

Practice Areas

Conservatorship Lawyer Mesa, AZ
End-Of-Life Planning Lawyer Mesa, AZ
Estate Planning Lawyer Mesa, AZ
Guardianship Lawyer Mesa, AZ

Wills And Trusts Lawyer Mesa, AZ
Living Will Lawyer Mesa, AZ
Business Formation Lawyer Mesa, AZ

Estate Administration Lawyer Mesa, AZ
Asset Protection Lawyer Mesa, AZ
Living Trust Lawyer Mesa, AZ

estate planning law firm
Facebook-f Twitter Linkedin-in Youtube Instagram Rss

Our Mesa Office

2500 S Power Road Bldg 14
Suite 132
Mesa, AZ 85209

Phone Number: (602) 910-4068

Our Gilbert Office

1425 S. Higley Road #106
Gilbert, AZ 85296

Copyright © 2025 – LifePlan Legal AZ. All rights reserved. Some artwork provided under license agreement. Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Sitemap