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An affidavit or declaration signed under penalty of perjury at least 40 days after the death can be used to collect the assets for the beneficiaries or heirs of the estate. No documents are required to be filed with the Superior Court if the small estates law (California Probate Code Sections 13100 to 13116) is used.

Obtain and complete the California small estate affidavit. You must obtain the form used by the probate court in the county where the deceased was a resident. ... Include attachments. ... Obtain other signatures. ... Get the documents notarized. ... Transfer the property.

Visit the appropriate court office. ... Check the court's limits for the estate's value. ... Obtain the correct affidavit form. ... Fill out the affidavit in full. ... Sign the affidavit. ... Obtain a death certificate.

The California Probate Code provides that probate estates of $150,000 or less do not need to be probated. If the estate consists of assets in excess of $150,000 a probate is necessary. The $150,000 amount is calculated by totaling all of the probate assets owned by the decedent.

A small estate affidavit is a substitute for a probate proceeding. You cannot open an "estate account," without having an estate. If you have an estate, you need to go to probate.

As of January of 2012, an estate with assets valued at $150,000 or less, excluding certain types of assets, is considered a small estate under California law. ... The type of property transferred using a small estate affidavit typically includes bank accounts, stocks, mutual funds and other financial investments.

California law does not require you to use the probate court when the decedent's estate is $150,000 or less in value and hence classified as a "small estate." ... However, in order to use this procedure for real property, such as a home or vacant lot, the real property must be valued at $50,000 or less.

The new limit of $150,000 applies to all estates, regardless when the decedent died, provided the affidavit was signed after Jan. 1, 2012. Who can use the small estates law? Beneficiaries and heirs of the estate, trustees of the decedent's trust, and fiduciaries, among others.

The California Probate Code provides that probate estates of $150,000 or less do not need to be probated. If the estate consists of assets in excess of $150,000 a probate is necessary. The $150,000 amount is calculated by totaling all of the probate assets owned by the decedent.

Small estate administration is an alternative to a formal probate of an estate when the assets, liens, and encumbrances of the estate are under a certain statutory amount, which varies by jurisdiction. It is a faster, easier, alternative to the probate process, involving less paperwork and delay.

A small estate affidavit is a legal document that allows property from a will to be transferred without it having to go through the probate process. This can be advantageous for the deceased person's beneficiaries, as the probate process can sometimes be costly and time-consuming.

Visit the appropriate court office. ... Check the court's limits for the estate's value. ... Obtain the correct affidavit form. ... Fill out the affidavit in full. ... Sign the affidavit. ... Obtain a death certificate.

Cost Of The Small Estate Affidavit Procedure Because of this, the fee can range from about $1,000 to several thousand dollars. The clerk's filing fee for this procedure is usually about $350. That is generally the only cost.

In most states, however, there is the option to use a small estate affidavit when the assets of the estate are under a certain dollar amount, which varies by state. An attorney is not required to file a small estate affidavit, although it may be helpful to consult with one prior to filing the small estate affidavit.

Fortunately, not all property needs to go through this legal process before it passes to your heirs. ... The quick rule of thumb is probate is not required when the estate is small , or the property is designed to pass outside of probate. It doesn't matter if you leave a will.