Estate Planning, Trust Administration & Probate in San Anselmo

Start with an ownership inventory

Make a list of real estate, bank and investment accounts, business interests, vehicles, and other significant property. For each item, note its owner, how it is held, whether it is titled in a trust, and any beneficiary designation. Where possible, record an estimated value as of the date of death for an estate being administered. These details can affect which transfer procedures apply.

For San Anselmo property, distinguish the property's location from the owner's mailing address. Real property records are kept by the recorder in the county where the property is located. A residence in San Anselmo is in Marin County, but a mailing label alone does not determine where a decedent-estate case belongs. The decedent's residence and the location and ownership of property are more relevant to that question.

• Gather deeds, account statements, trust documents, and beneficiary information.
• Note how each asset is owned and whether the title matches the current estate plan.
• Keep a trusted person informed about where important documents can be found.

Planning while you are alive

Estate planning addresses how decisions and property will be handled during life and after death. A plan may include a will, living trust, financial power of attorney, and advance health care directive. These documents serve different purposes: a financial power of attorney addresses financial matters, while a health care directive addresses health care decisions.

A trust plan requires coordination between the written plan and asset ownership. Creating a trust document by itself does not establish that particular property is titled in the trust. Review deeds, account ownership, and beneficiary designations alongside the plan, especially after acquiring property or making significant account changes. Planning documents are prepared while a person is alive; they are not court probate filings merely because the person lives in San Anselmo.

After a death: trust administration or court probate

Trust administration and court probate are distinct processes. A successor trustee may need to identify and manage trust property, address obligations, and distribute assets under the trust. The next steps depend on what the trust owns and how other assets are titled or designated. A trust may guide administration of property titled in it, but ownership and beneficiary arrangements still matter for assets outside the trust.

Formal probate is a court process that generally involves opening a case, administering the estate, and closing it. A will can nominate an executor, but the nomination is not the same as court appointment; the court appoints a personal representative. That representative inventories assets, addresses debts, and reports before final distribution. Not every estate requires formal probate, and the appropriate route depends on the property and its ownership.

• For a decedent who lived in California, probate is usually filed in the county where the person lived.
• If the decedent lived outside California but owned California property, a filing may be required where that property is located.
• Marin County's Probate Examiner/Research Attorney reviews decedent-estate documents for procedural correctness before hearings and does not give legal advice or advisory opinions.

Working with counsel from San Anselmo

Codi M. Dada Law Office P.C. has one in-person office at 802 Grant Ave, Novato, and offers virtual services across California. A remote consultation can help discuss your documents and circumstances, but it does not automatically authorize remote signing or remote court appearances. Those arrangements depend on the applicable requirements and should be confirmed for the specific matter.

Choose the service that fits your situation

• Estate planning — prepare or review your plan and asset arrangements.
• Trust administration — discuss carrying out an existing trust.
• Probate administration — understand the steps for a court-supervised estate.

Common questions

Does living in San Anselmo mean probate must be filed in Marin County?

Not necessarily. The decedent's residence is generally relevant to the county for a California probate filing, while California property owned by someone who lived out of state may point to the county where the property is located. A mailing address alone does not settle the question, and not every estate requires formal probate.

Does a living trust eliminate every court proceeding?

No. A trust can guide administration of property titled in it, but other assets may have different ownership or beneficiary arrangements and transfer procedures. Reviewing the full asset inventory helps identify what process may apply.