Losing a loved one is perhaps the most painful event in a person’s life. For some, it takes a while before they recover from such a loss. However, amidst the grief and pain, there are legal proceedings that you have to go through - one of those could be the probate. Probate is the process of legally establishing the validity of a will before a juridical authority. The purpose of a probate is to transfer the ownership of the title to the heirs or beneficiaries of the deceased. In some states in the US, the court allows a limited amount of several types of property to be passed on certain beneficiaries without a probate or through a simplified probate procedure. In the case of joint properties, the ownership is passed on to the surviving co-owner without a probate. Probate is handled in the appropriate court in the state and county where the deceased permanently resided. If the decease resided in San Diego, then the probate procedure must be held in San Diego, it is also ideal to hire a san diego estate attorney to take your case.

Even if a will is present, there is still a need for the court to have the opportunity to allow others to object to the Will and determine if the Will is valid. Although it is not a requirement to hire a probate lawyer, it will definitely be helpful if you do, especially if you are not that familiar with all the legal proceedings and requirements.