Estate Planning, Trust Administration & Probate in Millbrae

Prepare an estate plan while you can make decisions

Estate planning addresses decisions during your lifetime as well as the transfer of property after death. A plan may include a will, living trust, financial power of attorney and advance health care directive. These documents have different purposes: a financial power of attorney concerns financial matters, while a health care directive addresses health care decisions.

A living trust needs to be coordinated with asset ownership. Creating a trust document does not, by itself, establish that every asset is held in the trust. Review property titles and beneficiary designations alongside the plan, and keep an appropriate person informed about where important documents are stored.

• Gather existing wills, trust documents, powers of attorney and health care directives.
• List significant assets, how each is owned, and any named beneficiaries.
• Note questions about who should manage finances or make health care decisions if you cannot.

When a Millbrae estate may involve probate

Probate is a court-supervised process that may be needed to transfer some property after a death; it is not required for every estate. A will does not necessarily avoid probate. The available transfer route depends on factors such as ownership, trust title and beneficiary designations, so an inventory is a useful starting point.

For formal probate, the process includes opening a case, administering the estate and closing it. A will may nominate an executor, but nomination is not the same as appointment: the court appoints a personal representative. That representative inventories assets, addresses debts and reports before final distribution.

Residence and property location can matter more than the address printed on mail. Formal probate is usually filed in the county where the decedent lived. If the decedent lived outside California but owned property in California, a filing may be required where that property is located. These are general considerations, not a conclusion that a particular Millbrae resident must file in San Mateo County.

• Record the decedent’s residence at death and identify any property owned in California or elsewhere.
• For each asset, note its type, how it was owned, any trust title or beneficiary designation, and its estimated value as of the date of death.
• For real property, identify the county where it is located; property records are maintained by that county’s recorder.

Trust administration and court resources

Trust administration is distinct from court probate. It involves carrying out the trust’s terms and reviewing the assets held in the trust. The title and ownership of each asset matter: property outside a trust may follow a different transfer procedure, and some estates can involve both trust administration and a court proceeding.

The San Mateo County Superior Court Probate Division handles decedent estates and trusts. If formal probate is being considered, use the court’s current division and case instructions for the relevant process. The county court’s role concerns proceedings after a death; it does not govern documents prepared or signed during lifetime estate planning.

• Organize the trust and related records, asset information, beneficiary details and any correspondence about debts or property.
• Check current court instructions rather than relying on an assumed courthouse location or outdated forms.

Planning and support from Millbrae

Codi M. Dada Law Office P.C. has one office at 802 Grant Ave in Novato and offers virtual services across California, including for people in Millbrae. A remote consultation can help discuss documents and planning questions, but it does not automatically authorize remote signing or remote court appearances. Signing arrangements and any court participation depend on the circumstances and applicable requirements.

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 a Millbrae address mean probate must be filed in San Mateo County?

Not necessarily. Formal probate is usually filed in the county where the decedent lived. For an out-of-state decedent with California property, the county where that property is located may matter. Residence, ownership and the type of asset should be reviewed before determining a filing route.

What information should I gather before asking about a trust or estate?

Collect the will and trust documents, if any, and make an asset list showing each item’s type, ownership, trust title, beneficiary designation and estimated date-of-death value. Include the decedent’s residence and the county for any real property. This information helps identify which transfer procedures may apply.