Miller Morton prides itself on being trusted advocates for our probate and trust administration clients throughout California. We understand that administering the estate of a loved one can be a trying time, and thus, our compassionate and skilled attorneys work to ease the legal burdens associated with these matters.

Probate Administration When an individual passes away, his or her assets for which distribution is not predetermined by ownership structure (e.g., property held in trust or joint tenancy with right of survivorship) or beneficiary designation (e.g., insurance policies and retirement accounts) must be handed down through the probate process. This is true regardless of whether the individual has a will, though smaller estates are often exempt from probate administration. Our trusts and estates attorneys have decades of experience representing families in probate proceedings.

Probate is often a lengthy process; and, with the various fees involved, can be expensive. We are cognizant of these realities, and work to minimize the burdens involved in administering your loved one's estate.

Trust Administration Unlike probate, trust administration is handled outside of the California court system. With a trust, the decedent's assets are distributed by a designated trustee in accordance with the terms of the trust's governing documents. For family members thrust into the role of trustee, this can often seem like a daunting task. We can help you understand your duties and expectations.

Our attorneys regularly represent clients with respect to administration of trusts and estates, including:

• • Supervision and counseling of trustees
  • Ensuring proper transfer of assets
  • Post-mortem tax planning

Miller Morton also serves as legal counsel for trustees, beneficiaries and other affected parties in trust-related litigation. Please click here to read more about our trust litigation services.