When someone dies
The paperwork does not wait for you to be ready, and some of it is on a clock.
“Well Rudy, first and foremost, I’m sorry to hear about your dad’s passing.”
Shadi Ala’i Shaffer, the first thing she said to a caller on the firm’s radio show whose father had died
If somebody has just died and you do not know what you are supposed to do first, start here, and start today. Some of these deadlines are short.
- Phancao & Shaffer, LLP
- Asset Protection & Elder Law Center
- California probate and trust administration
- Costa Mesa and Laguna Beach
- Since 2004
What is happening, in plain words
Somebody has died. There are notices that must go out by law, accounts nobody can touch, a house in one person’s name, and a court process that may or may not be avoidable depending on what was set up years ago.
If there is a trust, the work is administering it, which is a set of duties with real legal exposure for whoever agreed to be trustee. If there is not, the work is probate, which is slower and public.
You do not need to understand any of that before you call.
- Trust AdministrationWhat the person named as trustee actually has to do after a death: the notices, the accounting, the taxes, and the distributions. It is a legal duty with real exposure, and most people are doing it for the first time while grieving.
- California ProbateThe court process that handles an estate when there was no trust. It is public, it takes a long time, and the base cost is set by statute rather than by us.
“Unfortunately, I’m having to tell the children what to expect and what the probate process is all about.”
Shadi Ala’i Shaffer, from her own video. Punctuation added; not a word changed.
What probate costs, in her words
“I kind of make the analogy of Disneyland. You know, it’s expensive to get in, and then once you’re in, it’s even more money. Probate’s the same way.”
“Not a penny of that goes into our pocket.”
Shadi Ala’i Shaffer, as a guest on Probate Weekly. Punctuation added; not a word changed. The court’s fees are set by statute, and the current figures are hers to state, so none appear here.
And the sentence she says to people who are deciding whether they are being sold something:
“You don’t have to hire me, but you do need to get this done. And by the way, attorneys make 10 times the money when a property goes through probate.”
Shadi Ala’i Shaffer, as a guest on Probate Weekly. Punctuation added; not a word changed.
The first days
(WHAT TO DO IN THE FIRST DAYS AFTER A DEATH: NEW LEGAL CONTENT. Nothing in the firm’s published material covers this yet, and it is the question the most people arrive with. It is written by Shadi, or reviewed by her as legal content, before it appears here. It is not marketing copy and it is not ours to draft.)
Families who came to her at this stage
“My father moved to California from Philadelphia at age 99 and subsequently passed away at 101.5 yrs old. He unfortunately did not have a fully executed Trust, just a will... Both Shadi A. Shaffer and Taline Arthur have done an amazing job guiding my brother and I thru this process. I cannot imagine anybody doing a better job.”
Marc W., client
“At a time of tremendous stress and grief, Shadi guided me through the entire trust process with compassion and insight. Her ability to translate complex legal concepts into language that is comprehensible to the lay individual is nothing short of a gift!”
Lisa P., client
The testimonials or endorsements do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.
Call us today
You do not need to understand any of this before you call.Some of these deadlines are short. Today is the right day.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Laguna Beach120 S Coast Hwy #100
Laguna Beach, CA 92651