Estate Planning, Trust Administration & Probate in Los Altos, California

Plan for incapacity while you are alive

Estate planning can include a financial power of attorney, an advance health care directive, a will, and a living trust. These documents serve different purposes: a financial power of attorney addresses financial matters, while a health care directive addresses health care decisions. The documents should reflect your wishes and work together as part of a broader plan.

A trust plan also requires attention to asset ownership. A trust document alone does not establish that every asset is titled in the trust, and the title and beneficiary designation on an asset may affect how it transfers. Consider preparing a list of assets and accounts, noting how each is owned and whether a beneficiary is named. Keep important documents where an appropriate person can find them and let that person know where they are.

After a death: determine the right transfer process

Trust administration and court probate are distinct processes. A successor trustee may need to administer property held in a trust under its terms. Other assets may transfer through ownership arrangements or beneficiary designations, while some circumstances call for a court process. A will does not by itself establish that probate can be avoided, and trust ownership does not rule out every court proceeding.

To assess next steps, gather the will and trust documents, account and property statements, deeds, and beneficiary information. For each asset, record its type, how it is owned, and its estimated value as of the date of death. These details help identify possible transfer procedures and what remains to be addressed.

Los Altos and Santa Clara County court logistics

Los Altos is in Santa Clara County, but a city or mailing address alone does not determine where a probate case belongs. Formal probate is usually filed in the county where the decedent lived. If someone lived outside California but owned property in California, a filing may be required where that property is located. The decedent’s residence and the location and ownership of property matter more than a mailing label; not every Los Altos resident’s estate must be filed in Los Altos or Santa Clara County.

The Santa Clara County Superior Court’s probate calendar page provides hearing information set by the clerk and links to local rules, tentative rulings, and advance case-status reports. It also distinguishes electronic filing for attorneys from filing options for people without attorneys. For real property, records are held by the recorder in the county where the property is located. These resources can help with local logistics, but they do not replace assessing the specific estate.

How probate administration differs from planning

Formal probate generally involves opening a court case, administering the estate, and closing the case. 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 to the court before final distribution.

Codi M. Dada Law Office P.C. has one in-person office in Novato and offers virtual services statewide, including for Los Altos clients. A remote consultation does not automatically authorize remote document signing or remote court appearances; those questions depend on the particular document or proceeding.

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 Los Altos resident always need probate?

No. The appropriate process depends on the decedent’s residence, assets, ownership, trust title, and beneficiary designations. Some property may transfer outside court, while other circumstances may require probate or another proceeding.

Does a virtual consultation mean I can sign documents or attend court remotely?

No. A virtual consultation does not automatically make remote signing or a remote court appearance available. The requirements depend on the documents and the specific court proceeding.