Trust administration is a process by which an estate is administered when a person having a trust dies. It is generally accomplished without court supervision, but requires the assistance of at least an attorney and a CPA. The degree of difficulty in administering a trust depends on the nature and value of the assets and the relationship between the trustee and the beneficiaries. I am highly experienced in representing trustees in trust administration and I handle administrations in the most straightforward and efficient way possible.
Probate administration is generally required less frequently than trust administration. When a person dies, either with only a will or without a will, probate proceedings are required and are court-supervised. Unfortunately, often probate is a cumbersome process and can take anywhere from several months to several years, depending on the complexity of the estate. However, I have efficiently handled many probates for executors and administrators and guided them when problems arise in the course of administration.
Additionally, alternatives to probate may exist. For example, even when a spouse dies without leaving a will, a surviving spouse may be able to transfer community property through a Spousal Property Petition.