A long-time California friend I took care of has passed away. How do I find out if I am a beneficiary in the will?

How do I find out if I am a beneficiary in a will?

Are you wondering if you are a beneficiary in a will? People listed as beneficiaries who are not members of the family of the deceased are usually informed by the California probate court. However, this only applies if the will has been filed with the court upon death. This is the case if the assets have to go through probate.

If you believe that you are named a beneficiary in a will but you have not been notified that a will has been submitted to probate, then you have the right to seek probate court intervention and ask to be part of the probate procedure.

Beneficiary (noun):

A person who benefits from a trust, will, or life insurance policy. This includes heir, heiress, inheritor, legatee; recipient, receiver, payee, donee, assignee; devisee, grantee.

Probate (noun):

The process of proving in court that the will of a person who has died is valid. It involves proving before a competent judicial authority that a document offered for official recognition. It also involves proving the last will and testament of a deceased person is genuine. Not all wills must go through this in California.

If you are ready to start your case, then please give us a call or fill out our Get Help Now form.  If you want a comprehensive overview of California Probate, then click here. Should you have additional questions about trust litigation, then you will find plenty of useful information in our Learning Center.