Quick Start Probate Interview

Once any section below has been completed, you can easily return to it by using the numbered links below. If your browser is preventing the page from scrolling down, use your TAB button.

1 Start

2 The Petitioner

3 Confidential Information

4 Additional Petitioners

5 The Probate Case

6 The Decedent

7 Residency

8 Citizenship

9 Death

10 Personal Information

11 Will

12 Codicils

13 Executor

14 Location of Will

15 Personal Representative

16 Living Trust

17 Special Circumstances

18 Heirs

19 Other Beneficiaries

20 Spouse

21 Children Details

22 Estate Value

23 Waivers and Assignments

24 Minor Heirs

25 Special Notices

26 Unsecured Creditors

27 Contingencies/Taxes

28 Comments

29 Final Review

30 Services

31 Understanding Contract

32 Notice to Consumer

33 Contract

34 Payment

Welcome to our Quick Start Probate Interview Process
This online interview will let you see how easy it is to provide our office with the required information to start your probate case. It's convenient and risk free. See how easy our interview is before you hire our services! This interview is for full probate proceedings that require Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration. It is not designed for small estate administration proceedings. If you need help with a Small Estate Proceeding Click here!

You can even save your work-in-progress and pick up on it at a later time!
Just click on "save and continue later" which can be found at the bottom of every page.
PROBATE INTERVIEW
This convenient quick-start online interview process will enable you to see how easy it is to provide the necessary information for your probate proceeding. Please take your time to carefully read each section and provide complete answers.
Your Contact Information
Please provide some basic contact information. If you are not going to be a Petitioner in this case, that's OK. You'll have a chance to enter that information later.
Your Name*
First Middle Last
Your Telephone Number*
Your Email*

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Information about the Petitioner
The petitioner is simply the person that is starting the probate process. The petitioner is often the person(s) that will ultimately be responsible for the estate, but they don't have to be. Courts recommend that the petitioner be one of the following: surviving spouse, a child of the deceased, other next of kin, or a named executor (if there is a will).
Number of Petitioners in this Case*
There is no need for more than one petitioner. Recall that the petitioner simply starts the process. Having additional petitioners only increases the number of people that need to sign the documents, increases costs to prepare the documents, and could also make the process more cumbersome and complex. We recommend selecting "1 Petitioner" here.
- Check here if you will be a Petitioner. This will copy previously entered Contact Information
Petitioner Name*
First Middle Last
Petitioner's relationship to the decedent*
Please identify the relationship of the petitioner to the decedent. This could be spouse, daughter, son, grandson, friend, niece, nephew, etc.
Petitioner is decedent's:
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Petitioner's Telephone Number*
Petitioner's Email Address*

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Confidential Information About Petitioner
Please provide the following information for the required Confidential Statement required by the Court. This information will not be public record but will be maintained by the court.
Petitioner's Date of Birth*
Petitioner's Social Security No.*
Petitioner's Driver's Lic. No.*
State of Issuance of License*
Is the Petitioner a US citizen?*
- Yes the Petitioner is a US citizen
- No the Petitioner is not a US citizen
What country is Petitioner's citizenship?*

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You indicated above there will be more than one Petitioner in this matter. Remember, there is no need for more than one petitioner. As mentioned above, having additional petitioners only increases the number of people that need to sign the document and could also make the process more cumbersome and complex. If you desire to change your eearlier answer, click the "Previous" button to return to your original selection to change your answer. Otherwise, please enter the information below.
Additional Petitioner information*
Please complete the following information for each additional Petitioner.
Name of Additional Petitioner Relationship to Decedent Address, City, State, Zip Date of Birth Driver's Lic. No. State of DL# Social Security #

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The Probate Case
County of Probate Filing*
Please select the California county where this proceeding will be or is already filed. This is typically either 1) the California county where the decedent resided or 2) if the decedent did not reside in California, where the assets or real property are located.
Has probate been opened before for the deceased?*
- Yes probate has been opened before
- Probate has not been opened before
What is the case number for the previous probate?*
The court provides the case number number. It can be found in every court document pertaining to the case.
In what state was probate previously opened?*

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The Decedent
What is the legal name of the Decedent?*
First Middle Last Suffix
Was the deceased known by another name? (AKA)*
Also Known As (AKA) - some people are recognized both legally and commonly by another name, often their middle name or a nickname. Example: Sandy is often Sandra, and Richard is often Dick. Some people use their first initial and full middle name: T. Robert Jones.
- Yes the deceased was known by other name(s)
- No the deceased was not known by other name(s)
Add the details of the first AKA and click + to add additional names
What date was the deceased born?*
MM
DD
YYYY
In what City and State was the Decedent born?*

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Decedent's Residency
State of Primary Residency of Decedent*
The deceased's primary legal residence is the place where they lived 50% of the time, where their car was registered, where tax bills and bank statements were mailed to, the address on their ID (passport, driver's license) and voter registration.Please check one:
- Decedent was a resident of California
- Decedent was NOT a resident of California
Decedent's Primary Residence*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
County of Residency*
Please choose the decedent's county of residency (where they lived).
Decedent's Residency in County*
How many years did the decedent live in the county selected above?

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Decedent's Citizenship
Was the deceased a US citizen?*
- Yes the decedent was a US citizen
- No the decedent was not a US citizen
In what Country did the Deceased hold their citizenship?*

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Decedent's Death
What date did the deceased pass away?*
Provide the date of death (from the death certificate).
MM
DD
YYYY
City where decedent died*
State/Providence of death*
Country where decedent died*
Death Certificate
If you have a copy of Decedent's Death Certificate, you can upload it here. This portal will only accept uploads in pdf (Adobe Acrobat) format.
Accepted file types: pdf.

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Personal Information About Decedent
Decedent's Social Security No.*
If unknown enter "unknown"
Decedent's Driver's Lic. No.*
If unknown enter "unknown"
Was Decedent Receiving Medi-Cal?*
- No, Decedent was not receiving Medi-Cal
- Yes, Decedent was receiving Medi-Cal
- I do not know if Decedent was receiving Medi-Cal
Did the deceased have a will?*
- Yes the decedent has a will
- No the decedent did not have a will
Did the deceased have a Living Trust?*
- Yes the decedent has a Living Trust
- No the decedent did not have a Living Trust

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Decedent's Will
Was decedent's Will a handwritten Will or a typed Will?*
- Decedent's Will is written in decedent's own handwriting
- Decedent's Will is typed
Holographic Will*
Ok - so the decedent had a handwritten Will. In California, the court will need a copy of the handwritten Will as well as a TYPED VERSION of the handwritten will. Please TYPE the Will word-for-word in the space below.
Date will was signed by Decedent*
MM
DD
YYYY
Were there any witnesses to the signing of the Will?*
Check to see if the will was witnessed. The witness typically signs their name at the bottom of the will as the witness, and there is often an additional affidavit under penalty of perjury along with their signature.
- Yes the Will was witnessed
- No there were no witnesses that signed the decedent's Will

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Amendments or Changes to Decedent's Will
Was this will amended by codicil(s)?*
A codicil is a small change, added to the will in an additional signed and witnessed document. The codicil simply changes a portion of the will without negating the will entirely.
- No the will was never amended
- Yes the will was amended
Add the details of the each Codicil. Click the + to add additional amendments*
Date of Amendment/Codicil Witnesses (yes or no)

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Named Executor in Will
Does the Will appoint an Executor?*
- Yes decedent's Will names an Executor
- No decedent's Will does NOT name as Executor
Is the Petitioner a named Executor in the Will?*
The executor is a person appointed by a person in their will to carry out the terms of the will. Often there will be a "first choice" and then an alternate choice.
- The Petitioner is named as decedent's FIRST CHOICE for Executor in the Will
- Petitioner is named in decedent's Will as an ALTERNATE Executor
- No the Petitioner is not named Executor in the Will
Please provide the following information regarding all Executors named in the Will*
Name as referenced in Will Street Address City, State, Zip Position (first named, alternate named, etc)
Executor of Estate Declines to Act*
Have any of the above-named individuals declined to act as Executor?
- Yes
- No
Please identify which named Executor has Declined to Act*

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Location of Original Will
Do you have the original signed will?*
- Yes I have the original will in my possession
- No I do not have the original will in my possession
Do you have a photocopy of the will?*
- Yes I have a photocopy of the will
- No I do not have a photocopy of the will
Is the ORIGINAL will in someone else's possession?*
- Yes the ORIGINAL will is in another person's possession
- The ORIGINAL will has been filed with the Court
- No, the ORIGINAL will has been lost
You have indicated that the ORIGINAL Will is lost. This may result in the decedent's estate being distributed under the laws of intestate succession.
Will Documentation
Please upload a pdf version of the decedent's Will and any Codicils. this portal will only allow for uploads in pdf format.
Drop files here or

Accepted file types: pdf.

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Personal Representative of Estate
When there is no executor or will, a personal representative of the estate will need to be appointed.
Personal Representative when there is no Will or Named Executor (check first option that applies)*
- The Proposed representative has been nominated by an executor who does not want to act as Executor
- The Proposed representative has been nominated by all heirs and/or beneficiaries

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Decedent's Living Trust
What Date did Decedent sign their Trust?*
What is the Complete Name of Decedent's Trust?*
All Trustees Named in Trust*
Please name ALL trustee's listed in decedent's Living Trust. This includes the original Trustees who created the trust and any designated co-trustees and/or alternate successor trustees. Click the + to make additional entries.
Name of Trustee (as identified in Trust) Designation in Trust (original trustee, first successor, 2nd successor, co-successor) X Check if deceased
Trust Documentation
If you have a copy of decedent's trust, you can upload a pdf copy and any Trust Amendments here.
Drop files here or

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Special Circumstances
Was decedent under a conservatorship or guardianship at time of death?*
- No
- Yes
Please provide name and address of all persons serving as guardian or conservator.*
Please provide detailed court case information regarding those proceedings*
Has an executor/administrator of this estate passed away or been removed?*
- No
- Yes
Did the will fail to name an executor, or does a named executor want to refuse the nomination?*
- No
- Yes
Did the estate have no will, and the administrator has passed or been removed while assets still remain in estate?*
- No
- Yes
Has a lawsuit has been brought to challenge the will and/or the executor?*
- No
- Yes
Has the executor been unavailable for part or the entirety of process?*
- No
- Yes
Is the executor named in the will a minor?*
- No
- Yes
Do you have any reason to believe that anyone would object to or fight the petition for probate? Or are there other special circumstances we should know about?*
- No
- Yes
Please explain your answer above.*

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Heirs and Devisees
What was the deceased's marital status at the time of death?*
- Married
- Domestic Partner
- Widowed
- Unmarried or Divorced
- Single, Never Married
Did the Decedent have children?*
Predeceased means someone who has died before (another person, typically someone related by blood or marriage
- Decedent had children (living or predeceased)
- Decedent did NOT have children
Decedent's children were:*
- Natural (biological) or adopted children
- Natural children that were adopted by a third party
Did the Decedent have pre-deceased children?*
- Decedent DID have children who died before him/her
- Decedent did NOT have children who died before him/her
Predeceased Children*
Tip: Issue of predeceased children are referring to grandchildren of the decedent and specifically grandchildren whose parent (son or daughter of the decedent) has died.
- There are issue of decedent's predeceased children
- There are No issue of a predeceased child

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It seems the Decedent had a surviving spouse but no children. Please tell us about other relatives who survived the decedent.*
Check the FIRST item that applies.
- Decedent's parent or parents are living
- Decedent has living brothers or sisters
It seems the Decedent had NO surviving spouse, registered domestic partner or children. We need to know who the Decedent was survived by:*
Please check only the FIRST item that applies.
- Decedent's parent or parents
- Children of Decedent's deceased parent(s)
- Decedent's Grandparent or grandparents
- Children of Decedent's grandparent or grandparents
- Children of a predeceased spouse
- Other next of kin
- Parents of a predeceased spouse or Children of those parents, if both are predeceased
HEIRS/BENEFICIARIES: Details about Decedent's Surviving Relatives Above*
Please provide the details about decedent's relatives (living or not) based on your answer above. Click the + to add additional individuals. You MUST include information pertaining to ALL of the individuals mentioned in the list above.
Full Name Relationship to Decedent Age If Minor, Date of Birth Residence Address or Date of Death (if deceased)
Please provide the following additional information regarding the decedent's pre-deceased spouse*
Please check one of the following:
- Decedent's spouse died not more than 15 years before decedent and owned real propery that passed to decedent
- Decedent's spouse died not more than 5 years before decedent and owned personal property valued at $10,000 or more that passed to decedent
- None of the above applies
Please provide further details:*
Please check only the FIRST item that applies.
- Decedent was survived by issue of a predeceased spouse
- Decedent was survived by a parent or parents of the predeceased spouse
- Decedent was survived by issue of a parent of the predeceased spouse
- Decedent was survived by next of kin of the decedent
- Decedent was survived by next of kin of the predeceased spouse
Are there any non-family members named in the will?*
- Yes there are non-family members named in the will
- No there are no other people named in the will
HEIRS/BENEFICIARIES: Details of Non-Family members named in Will*
Please provide the following details for each non-family member named in decedent's will.
Name Date of Birth Street Address City, State, Zip Adult or Minor? Living or Deceased? Date of Death (if applicable)
Explanation of Surviving Succession to Decedent's Estate*
In view of your answers above, please provide a detailed outline of the decedent's family tree and how you determined the decedent's heirs (next of kin).

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Spouse's or Domestic Partner's Information
Spouse's Name*
Domestic Partner's Name*
Late Spouse's Name*
Spouse's Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Domestic Partner's Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Late Spouse's Date of Birth*
MM
DD
YYYY
Late Spouse's Date of Death*
MM
DD
YYYY

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Children
HEIRS/BENEFICIARIES: Details of Children*
Please provide the following details for each child (include any deceased children)
Name Date of Birth Street Address City, State, Zip Adult or Minor? Living or Deceased? Date of Death (if applicable)
HEIRS/BENEFICIARIES: Details of Grandchildren*
You have indicated that a child of the decedent died before the decedent. If that deceased child had their own children, please provide the following details. In this regard, these children identifed below would be the grandchildren of the decedent whose estate will be probated.
Name of Grandchild Date of Birth Street Address City, State, Zip Adult or Minor? Living or Deceased? Date of Death (if applicable)

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Value of Estate and Personal Property
The following will allow you to provide the character and estimated values of the property of the estate based on the itemization on the previous page.
Estimated Total Value of Decedent's Estate*
Please provide your best "guestimate" if the amount is not known at this time.
"Personal Property" refers to all non-real estate assets, such as vehicles, things in the home, financial assets (bank, investments), etc. Please provide your estimated value of what would be considered "personal property." Please enter the true sales value of the personal property, without deducting for existing loans on any of the property (such as a car loan).
Estimated Value of Personal Property*
Personal Property Subtotal*
Annual Income Personal Property*
Does any of dedecent's personal property generate income? If so, please provide the ANNUAL income received from personal property. If not, enter 0, or the amount of income generated on a yearly basis.
Subtotal of Annual Gross Income*
Did the decedent own real property in California?*
- Yes the decedent owned real property in California
- No the decedent had no real property in California
Annual Real Property Income*
Does any of decedent's real property generate income? If so, please provide the ANNUAL income received from all real property (land, house, commercial building, etc.) If none, enter 0.
Number of Real Properties Owned
How many pieces of real property did the Decedent own in California?
Gross Value of Real Property*
Please provide the details regarding the gross value of any real property (land, house) in the estate and the total estimated balance of loans on this real property as of the date of decedent's death in the spaces allocated. These amounts can be your best "guestimate."
Balance of Loans / Mortgages*
Enter the total balance of loans and mortgages on the real property.
Net Value of Real Property*
NET VALUE OF ESTATE*
This is the estimated Net Value of this Estate.
Estimated total debt of decedent
This figue should include all debt, credit cards, taxes, personal loans, etc. Do not include real estate debt. Please provide your "best guess" or enter "unknown"

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Waivers or Assignments of Inheritance
Is any Beneficiary or Heir Voluntarily Waiving or Assigning their Rights of Inheritance?*
Please check one of the following, if applicable.

WAIVER: When a beneficiary wants to waive inheritance rights. This allows distribution of that beneficiary's interest and share of the estate to proceed down the lines of intestate succession (as though that beneficiary predeceased the decedent.)

ASSIGNMENT: When a beneficiary wants to transfer inheritance rights to specific person.
- One or more of the beneficiaries or heirs listed above wants to ASSIGN their inheritance to another person
- One or more of the beneficiaries or heirs listed above wants to WAIVE their inheritance
- n/a
Information regarding Inheritance Assignments*
Please provide the following additional information regarding those beneficiaries who are ASSIGNING their inheritance.
Name of Beneficiary Names of Alternate Beneficiary
Information regarding Inheritance Waivers*
Please provide the following additional information regarding those beneficiaries who are waiving their inheritance.
Name of Beneficiary Names of Beneficiaries in Succession (list one per line)

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Heirs and Beneficiaries that are Minors
Are any of the named beneficiaries or heirs of decedent's estate under the age of 18 years of age?*
- Yes some of the heirs or beneficiaries are under age 18
- All heirs and beneficiareis are adults and over age 18
Information regarding Minors that are Beneficiaries or Heirs to Estate*
Please provide additional information regarding any person listed above that is a minor.
Name of Minor Name of Parent/Guardian Address of Parent/Guardian Amount or Description of Inheritance (if applicable)

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Special Notices that May Be Required
Notice to Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board*
Special notice is required if an heir or beneficiary is or has previously served time in prison, jail or other facility under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation including city jail, road camp, industrial farm, or other local correctional facility. Please check one of the following:
- Yes an heir or beneficiary is or has been previously been confined in a prison or facility under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or confined in any county or city jail, road camp, industrial farm, or other local correctional facility.
- No an heir or beneficiary is NOT or has NOT been previously been confined in a prison or facility under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or confined in any county or city jail, road camp, industrial farm, or other local correctional facility.
- I do not know if an heir or beneficiary has been in prison or jail
Information Required for Victim's Notice
Please provide the following detailed information for each heir or beneficiary that has been confined in jail or prison as referenced above.
Full Name of Heir/Beneficiary Date of Birth Jail/Prison Location of Incarceration CDCR/Booking #

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Decedent's Unsecured Creditors and Debts
Please provide information regarding all currently known unsecured creditors. An unsecured debt is an obligation or debt that does not have specific property—like a house or car—which is collateral for payment of the debt. ... A secured debt, on the other hand, has a piece of property such as a car or house which can be repossessed if the debt is not paid. Click the + to add additional creditors.
Does Decedent have any Unsecured Creditors or Debt?*
- There are NO known unsecured creditors or debt
- Decedent has known unsecured creditors and debt
- Decedent's unsecured creditors and debt are unknown at this time
Status of Decedent's Estate*
The estate is expected to be:
- Solvent (the decedent's estate has enough assets to pay all debts)
- Insolvent (the decedent's does not have enough assets to pay all debts)
How have you investigated the financial condition of the decedent's estate?*
What efforts or actions did you take to make your decision about the financial condition of the estate? (check all that apply)
- Reviewed decedent's mail
- Reviewed decedent's current property tax bills
- Reviewed decedent's most recent income tax returns
- Reviewed decedent's current utility bills
- Reviewed decedent's bank statements
- Other
How many days did you review decedent's mail?*
How many months of decedent's bank statements did you review?*
Other efforts taken*
Please describe what other efforts you took to obtain information regarding decedent's financial status.
Information about Decedent's Known Creditors*
Please provide all information about decedent's secured and unsecured creditors here. If you do not know this information, you can skip this section and enter "unknown" in the first box.

TIP: Secured creditors would be a mortgage or car loan. Unsecured creditors would typically be credit cards, personal loans, etc.
Name of Creditor Address Account # Balance Due Date Next Pmt Secured or Unsecured

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Contingent Liabilities and Estate Taxes
Estate Tax Liability*
It is the personal representative's duty to make a review of the decedent's personal records. Please check each item that is a TRUE statement.

Estate Tax: The federal estate tax exemption allows an estate less than $5.45 million (as of 2016) in value to be passed on tax-free. If you have questions about the federal estate tax exemption, you should contact a CPA or attorney for advice.
- I DO NOT believe the estate will owe taxes
- I believe the estate WILL owe taxes
Contingent Liabilities*
Please check each item that is a TRUE statement.

TIP: A contingent liability is a potential liability that may occur, depending on the outcome of an uncertain future event. (example: if decedent was a defendant in a lawsuit)
- I am not aware of any contingent liabilities the decedent may have
- I am aware of contingent liabilities of the decedent
Expected Personal Taxes Owed by Decedent*
What personal taxes do you expect the decedent to owe? You can guestimate this information as best you can or enter "unknown"
State Income Tax Federal Income Tax Real Property & Personal Tax TOTAL ESTIMATED TAX DEBT

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Other Comments and Information about This Estate
If there are any other comments or information about the estate you feel are important, please provide that information below. If you would like to provide further explanation or clarification to our office regarding any of your responses in this interview or provide other information regarding this estate, please do so below.

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Final Review
Below please find the details of the information you have provided. Probate documents are exacting. Therefore, it is important that you double check to make sure the information you provided is accurate and complete. If you need to revise any of your answers, simply hit the PREVIOUS button at the bottom of the page to return to the section needing revision.
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Great Job! You're Almost Done.
Now that you have completed your interview we are ready to prepare your documents! You just need to decide what type of services fit your budget.
Selecting Your Probate Services
A People's Choice offers 3 low-cost options for probate document services. Additional information regarding your selection will be displayed once you you choose one of the options.
Options for Probate Services*
Please select which probate services you are interested in. Our base fee is indicated with add-on charges for estates with more than one 1 real property, co-petitioners or estates with more than 5 heirs/beneficiaries.
(Base fee $750) This option is when our more comprehensive services exceed your budget and you just want help with the paperwork for Phase 1 of the probate process. You will receive ready-to-file Phase 1 probate documentation. This option does not include any additional services or guidance other than written instructions. Customers who chose this option will be required to file the documents on their own, arrange publication and handle all other aspects of Phase 1 of the probate process.

Description of Phase 1 Documents Only: Preparation of Petition for Probate, Consent to Full Independent Authority, Declaration re Will or No Will, Nomination of Personal Representative and/or Declination to Act, if required, Notice of Petition to Administer Estate; Bond Waivers, Declaration re Known Creditors, Probate Cover Sheet, Order for Probate; Letters, Duties and Liabilities of Representative and Confidential Statement. No filing services or other administrative services are included. The client will be provided general instructions regarding publication, noticing and other steps that are required to complete Phase 1. NOTE: Any documents required by the client not specifically mentioned are not included in the flat fee and may require payment of additional fees. Selection of forms per public service booklet.
(Base fee $3900) Our full service is our most popular option and offers the most cost-savings. These Services include the standard document preparation for estates (with or without a will) for all three Phases of the California probate process. In addition, we facilitate all court filings, arrange publication, handle administrative notices, provide ongoing support, and include hands-on case administration throughout the entire probate process.

Description of Full Service Probate: Preparation of Petition for Probate, Consent to Full Independent Authority, Declaration re Will or No Will, Nomination of Personal Representative and/or Declination to Act, if required, Notice of Petition to Administer Estate; Bond Waivers, Declaration re Known Creditors, Probate Cover Sheet, Order for Probate; Letters, Duties and Liabilities of Representative, Confidential Statement, Application to appoint Probate Referee, Notice to Franchise Tax Board and Healthcare Agency, Notification to County Assessor re Death of Real Property Owner, Inventory and Appraisal, Petition for Final Distribution and waiver of accounting; Scheduling and Noticing Hearing on Final Distribution; Preparation of Order for Final Distribution, Receipts, and Ex Parte Application to Relief Representative of Duties. NOTE: Any documents required by client not specifically mentioned are not included in our base flat fee and may require payment of additional fees. Selection of forms per public service booklet. Services are contingent on all heirs waiving bond and accounting and all creditors paid in full prior to filing Petition for Final distribution. Probate cases must be completed within 12 months from completion of initial interview or an annual fee of $500 will be automatically assessed for each year case remains open.
(Base fee $1500) This is an option for individuals that want to budget the probate cost over the 9-month process and allows a customer to pay on a "per Phase" basis of $1500/phase (there are 3 phases in a California probate.) Phase 1 includes full-service document preparation and case administration through Phase 1 of the probate process, up to the appointment of the Personal Representative, Order for Probate and Issuance of Letters. The cost-savings is not as high as when you pay for all three phases at one time.

Description of Phase 1 Probate Services: Preparation of Petition for Probate, Consent to Full Independent Authority, Declaration re Will or No Will, Nomination of Personal Representative and/or Declination to Act, if required, Notice of Petition to Administer Estate; Bond Waivers, Declaration re Known Creditors, Probate Cover Sheet, Order for Probate; Letters, Duties and Liabilities of Representative, Confidential Statement. NOTE: Any documents required by the client not specifically mentioned are not included in the flat fee and may require payment of additional fees. Selection of forms per public service booklet.
Real Property Fees*
Our Full-Service probate services cover estates with no real property or estate with one piece of real property. There is an extra surcharge per property for estates with more than one piece of property. Based on your earlier answers in this interview, fees quoted will be based on the following number of real properties in this estate.
Number of Petitioners*
Please confirm the number of Petitioners in this case. This should match your answer provided earlier during this interview.
Number of Heirs/Beneficiaries in this case*
Please select the total number of Heirs/Beneficiaries in this case. Our base fee includes up to 5 heirs/beneficiaries. Your selection should match the number of entries provided under Sections labeled HEIRS/BENEFICIARIES as well as a living spouse/domestic partner. For a quick review of your entries, click the previous button for a recap.
Have a Coupon Discount Code?
Enter it here to apply to these services
Total
Based on your selection of services, this is what our services will cost.
$0.00
Ready to Get Started?
If you are ready to start the probate process, click the NEXT button. Otherwise, you can click on "Save and Finish Later" and return to all of your saved information when you are ready... It's that easy!

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Understanding the Mandatory Notices and Contract

Effective January 1, 2000, California implemented a statute which, for the first time in history, allowed a non-attorney to assist people with routine legal document preparation for many common legal services. Attorneys actively opposed the legislation and played an instrumental role in molding the new law to be a "restrictive" as possible, hoping that the law would fail and consumers would not be able to obtain low-cost legal services. With the activist efforts of CALDA, the California Association of Legal Document Assistants, the law did not fail, and for over 40 years A People's Choice has continued to successfully provide professional, low-cost non-attorney legal document preparation services for hundreds of thousands of consumers.

The notices and contract we use are mandated under the California law. All legal document assistants must provide these notices and use the mandatory contract by the California Department of Consumer Affairs. At first glance, these mandated notices and contract appear "restrictive". Through the creative use of legal software and legal materials written and approved by attorneys, A People's Choice has successfully provided high-quality, professional, full-scope legal document preparation services to consumers within the confines of the law.

Please hit NEXT to proceed through the required Notices and Contract.

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NOTICE TO CONSUMER

DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING BEFORE YOU READ THIS PAGE
- A People's Choice Inc. is not an attorney.
- A People's Choice Inc. is not a law firm.
- A People's Choice Inc. cannot represent you in court.
- A People's Choice Inc. cannot advise you about your legal rights or the law.
- A People's Choice Inc. cannot select legal forms for you.
- A People's Choice Inc. is registered in Ventura County, and the Registration Number is 5.
- A People's Choice Inc.'s registration is valid until November 30, 2020, after which it must be renewed.
- To confirm that A People's Choice Inc. is registered, you may contact the Ventura County Clerk's office at 805-654-2263.

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California Mandatory Contract Terms of Service*

You must scroll through the entire Contract to accept. A fully signed copy of this Contract will be emailed to you.

(This form contract was prepared by the Department of Consumer Affairs and is required to be executed by all parties and before any legal paperwork can be prepared by a California registered legal document assistant, pursuant to Business and Professions Code Section 6410 which became in effect January 1, 2000)

LEGAL DOCUMENT ASSISTANT
CONTRACT FOR SELF-HELP SERVICES

This is a contract between A People’s Choice Inc., and you, for the self-help services described in Part I below. I am the “legal document assistant” and you are the “client.”

IMPORTANT NOTICES

1. You should read and understand this entire contract before you sign it. You should understand the kinds of services that I can and cannot perform for you (see Part I below).

2. I am not an attorney. I cannot perform the legal services that an attorney performs. I cannot engage in the practice of law.

3. The county clerk has not evaluated or approved my knowledge or experience, nor the quality of my work.

4. I cannot keep your original documents if you request that I return them to you. I cannot keep your original documents if you and I do not sign this contract or if this contract terminates (ends) for any reason. I cannot keep your original documents after all of the contract services have been provided (see Part I below). It is a violation of California law if I keep your original documents under any of these circumstances.

5. It is a violation of California law if I make any false or misleading statement to you.

6. I cannot obtain special favors from, and I do not have any special influence with, any court or any state or federal agency.

7. As required by law, I have filed a bond or made a cash deposit and have registered as a legal document assistant in each county where I will perform services on your behalf.

I - SELF-HELP SERVICES

Kinds of services that I can perform for you: I can perform the following self-help services for you in connection with a legal matter in which you are representing yourself: I can type or otherwise complete, as you specifically direct, legal documents that you have selected. I can provide you general published factual information that was written or approved by an attorney, to help you represent yourself. I can provide you published legal documents. I can file and serve legal forms and documents as you specifically direct.

I cannot provide for you any other services. The above-mentioned services are the only kinds of services that I may perform for you. If you need additional services, then you require the services of an attorney.

Kinds of services that I cannot perform for you: I cannot provide you any self-help service unless you are representing yourself in a legal matter and the self-help service relates to that legal matter.

I cannot engage in the practice of law. This means that I cannot give you any kind of advice, explanation, opinion or recommendation about possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, strategies or options that you may have. I cannot give you any advice, explanation, opinion or recommendation regarding selection of forms.

I will provide you all the following services:

Description of Document Preparation Services:

Typing documents and forms, at client’s specific direction, consistent with self-help brochure or other informational materials that have been written or approved by an attorney; and perform other associated administrative tasks as follows:

Unless otherwise stated, most flat fee packages include specified allowances for routine communication by email. Cases are worked on in the order of generated activity.Timely client cooperation during all aspects of the case is required. Unreasonable delays as the result of client's inaction or multiple failures by client to respond to communications will result in the file being closed and fees forfeited.

NOTICE: Court forms are updated periodically (1 or 2 times per year) by the Judicial Council of California. A form updated after form preparation may result in a small reprocessing fee. Proceedings extending beyond the normal processing time due to inactivity or delays by client may also require additional service fees.

You are paying me only for those services listed above and no others. It is unlawful for me to make any guarantee or promise to you unless it is written in this contract and unless I have a factual basis for making the guarantee or promise.

II - FEES AND EXPENSES

You agree to pay me the following fees, costs and expenses:

FEES: (payable on execution of contract by cash, check or credit card)
a Flat Fee in the total amountof $0.00* for document preparation services to be paid as follows:

Fees: Fees are due and payable in full upon execution of this contract. Fees are for document preparation only and include limited communication by email and facilitating court filing of paperwork. Add-on services such as incoming phone calls, special appointments, reprocessing of documents, rush or expedited services and costs (see below) are not part of our flat fees. Any additional fees incurred will be required to be paid as incurred or prior to the conclusion of the case. Fees are non-refundable unless subject to the cancellation provisions of this contract.

Costs: Your estimated costs will vary.Anticipated costs for a full probate include 2 Court filing fees of $465.00; Newspaper Publication Fee, Probate Referee Fee, Efiling fees, etc. (vary)

Third party costs are not included in our document preparation fees unless specifically stated under Description of Document Preparation Services above. Costs may include recording fees, court filing fees, notary fees, postage, efiling fees and other third party costs that may be associated with your legal proceeding. Our fees include a minimal fax, scan and photocopy allowance. These allowances cover standard faxing and photocopying, however some clients may have needs that exceed these standard allowances. If your needs exceed these minimums, you will be notified of any additional costs before they are incurred.

*If contract is cancelled during cancellation period, (see III below) services for which we are entitled to compensation shall be calculated as follows: All appointment, telephone time and/or other work performed prior to receipt of cancellation charged at the hourly per staff rate of $150/hour (legal assistant) or $75/hour (support staff) plus a fee of $150.00 for opening file. If documents are substantially completed during the 24-hour period following execution, no refund will be due.

NOTICE TO CLIENT: All or the majority of the above-referenced documents may be substantially prepared at your appointment or within the first 24 hours after the receipt of your signed contract (see cancellation/refund clause.) Please make inquiry as to the expected time for completion based on our current case load.

III - CANCELLATION

You may cancel this contract for any reason within 24 hours after we both have signed it. If you cancel the contract, I must immediately refund any fees which you have paid me. The only fees that I may keep are fees for services which I have actually, necessarily and reasonably performed on your behalf during the 24-hour period. I cannot keep any fees for services performed during the 24 hour period unless you knew that I would perform those services and you agreed in this contract that I would perform them.

To cancel this contract, send me a written notice stating that you are canceling the contract. Mail the notice by first-class mail with the correct postage, and send it to me at my address (see Part V below). Cancellation takes effect on the date of the postmark on the notice. You can also cancel this contract by delivering a written notice of cancellation to my address within the 24-hour period.

You may also cancel this contract at any time if I:

• Fail to give you a copy of this contract before providing any services to you, or
• Fail to specify in the contact the services which I will perform and the costs of those
services, or
• Fail to give you a copy of the contract in English and in any other language that you understand and that was principally used in any oral sales presentation or negotiation leading to execution of the contract.

If you cancel this contract for any of these reasons, I must immediately refund in full any fees which you have paid me.

You may also cancel this contract at any time if you have legal cause.

IV - ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS

In the event of suit or damages arising from this contract or to enforce any of its provisions, the court may award the prevailing party his or her reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.The venue for any disputes about this contract is the county where you live in California.

V - DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTIES

Full Name of Legal Document Preparer:	A PEOPLE’S CHOICE LEGAL DOCUMENTS INC..
Business Name:	A PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Street address of Business: (corporate)	5755 Valentine Road. Suite 302
City, State, Zip	Ventura, California 93003
Telephone Number:	805-648-5540
Fax Number (if any):	805-244-9206
Registration # in County where services will be provided:	LDA #121, (Ventura)
Date of Expiration:	1/29/2022
County:	Ventura

Name of Client:
Street address:
City, State, Zip:	,
Your Telephone Number:
Petitioner's Telephone Number:
Your Email:
Petitioner's Email:

Title or brief description of the legal matter in which the client is representing himself or herself, if applicable: Estate of

VI - SIGNATURES

Executed at Ventura County, California. Date: 09/29/2023

A PEOPLE’S CHOICE INC.

Notices to Client

You may obtain information from the local bar association or a legal aid or legal services office regarding free or low-cost representation by a lawyer. You may contact the local police, sheriff, district attorney or legal aid or legal services office if you believe that you are the victim of fraud, unauthorized practice of law or other injury.

THIS CONTRACT IS NOT VALID OR BINDING UNTIL THE LEGAL DOCUMENT ASSISTANT HAS GIVEN ALL CLIENT PARTIES A FULLY EXECUTED COPY OF IT, INCLUDING AN ACCURATE TRANSLATION OF IT IN ANY LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH THAT THE CLIENT UNDERSTANDS AND THAT WAS PRINCIPALLY USED IN ANY ORAL SALES PRESENTATION OR NEGOTIATION LEADING TO EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT.

NOTE: Authority cited: Section 6410, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 6401.6, 6402, 6405, 6408, 6409, 6410, 6411, Business and Professions Code.

Date Executed: 09/29/2023

I have fully read the required Contract and agree to the Terms of Service

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Name of Additional Petitioner	Relationship to Decedent	Address, City, State, Zip	Date of Birth	Driver's Lic. No.	State of DL#	Social Security #

Date of Amendment/Codicil	Witnesses (yes or no)

Name as referenced in Will	Street Address	City, State, Zip	Position (first named, alternate named, etc)

Name of Trustee (as identified in Trust)	Designation in Trust (original trustee, first successor, 2nd successor, co-successor)	X Check if deceased

Quick Start Probate Interview

Welcome to our Quick Start Probate Interview Process

PROBATE INTERVIEW

This convenient quick-start online interview process will enable you to see how easy it is to provide the necessary information for your probate proceeding. Please take your time to carefully read each section and provide complete answers.

Your Contact Information

Information about the Petitioner

Confidential Information About Petitioner

The Probate Case

The Decedent

Decedent's Residency

Decedent's Citizenship

Decedent's Death

Personal Information About Decedent

Decedent's Will

Amendments or Changes to Decedent's Will

Named Executor in Will

Location of Original Will

Personal Representative of Estate

Decedent's Living Trust

Special Circumstances

Heirs and Devisees

Spouse's or Domestic Partner's Information

Children

Value of Estate and Personal Property

Waivers or Assignments of Inheritance

Heirs and Beneficiaries that are Minors

Special Notices that May Be Required

Decedent's Unsecured Creditors and Debts

Contingent Liabilities and Estate Taxes

Final Review

Great Job! You're Almost Done.

Selecting Your Probate Services

Ready to Get Started?

Understanding the Mandatory Notices and Contract

NOTICE TO CONSUMER

DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING BEFORE YOU READ THIS PAGE

You must scroll through the entire Contract to accept. A fully signed copy of this Contract will be emailed to you.

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