Sacramento, CA asked in Estate Planning and Probate for California

Q: What if a non-probate asset is listed in a Will?

If you were appointed by the court to handle the estate or, if you were to file a petition to determine success to real property, and discover that an asset listed in the Will turned out to be a non-probate asset, wouldn't you leave that out of the Inventory and Appraisal forms since they only deal with probate assets? Would they need supporting documents showing that they were jointly owned and thus not subject to probate?

Related Topics:
2 Lawyer Answers
James Edward Berge
James Edward Berge
Answered
  • Estate Planning Lawyer
  • San Jose, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: Yes, if you were appointed to be the executor of an estate, you would omit any assets from the estate inventory that pass by some other means, such as by right of survivorship or by beneficiary designation or by spousal property petition. You’re not eligible to file a petition to determine succession to real estate if you’re required to file a probate.

Julie King
Julie King
Answered
  • Estate Planning Lawyer
  • Monterey, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: You are correct that non-probatable assets are left off the Inventory and Appraisals.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.