Estate administration in California, handled after the loss.
When someone passes, their estate has to be settled — assets gathered, debts and taxes paid, property passed to the right people. Brandon Smith does that work, and only that work: post-death estate administration across California, in plain language.
Free consultation. No retainer to talk. Same-day callbacks.
At a glance
- What it is
- Settling an estate after death
- What it isn’t
- Estate planning — we don’t draft wills or trusts
- Covers
- Assets, creditors, taxes, distribution
- Serving
- Roseville, Granite Bay & all of California
Read this first
Administration, not planning.
We help families administer estates after a loved one passes — gathering assets, paying debts and taxes, and getting property to the right people. We do not draft wills or trusts before death.
If you’re looking to plan your estate — to put a will or living trust in place while you’re living — that’s estate planning, and it’s a different practice. We’ll gladly point you to a trusted estate planning attorney. What Brandon does, exclusively, is the work that comes after.
Everything it takes to close out what someone left behind.
Estate administration is the full process of settling a person’s financial life after they’re gone. It’s broader than any single court case — it’s the marshaling of assets, the handling of creditors, the final tax filings, and the distribution to heirs or beneficiaries.
Depending on the estate, that work runs through formal probate, a trust settlement, or a simplified California procedure. Many families don’t know which one applies to them — and choosing the wrong path, or skipping a step, costs money and time.
We determine the right path, then carry the administration through it. You make the decisions; we handle the filings, the deadlines, the creditors, and the accounting.
How an estate gets settled.
The route varies, but the work follows the same four stages — and we handle the parts that carry legal risk.
- 01
Establish authority and the right path
We confirm who has authority to act, gather the documents, and determine whether the estate needs formal probate, a trust settlement, or a simplified California procedure — then take the simplest legal route available.
- 02
Marshal and value the assets
Every asset is identified, secured, and valued — accounts, real estate, personal property, and business interests. This is the foundation everything else is measured against.
- 03
Handle creditors and taxes
Creditors are notified and given their window to file. We review claims, pay the valid ones from the estate, dispute the rest, and make sure final income and estate tax filings are completed.
- 04
Distribute and close
With debts and taxes resolved, the remaining assets pass to the heirs or beneficiaries — documented, accounted for, and closed out so no one is left exposed.
Estate administration questions
What California families ask us most when they’re settling an estate. If yours isn’t here, ask it on a free call.
What is the difference between estate administration and estate planning?
Estate planning happens before death — drafting wills, trusts, and powers of attorney to decide what should happen. Estate administration happens after a loved one passes — actually carrying out those decisions, paying debts and taxes, and getting assets to the people who inherit. We handle administration only. If you need a will or trust drafted, we’re glad to refer you to a trusted estate planning attorney.
Is estate administration the same as probate?
They overlap but aren’t identical. Probate is the court-supervised path for estates that require it. Estate administration is the broader work of settling everything a person left behind — marshaling assets, handling creditors, filing final taxes, and distributing the estate — whether that happens through formal probate, a trust, or a simplified procedure. We figure out which path your situation actually needs and handle it.
Do all estates have to go through formal probate?
No. If assets passed through a trust, joint tenancy, or named beneficiaries, or if the estate qualifies under California’s small-estate procedures, formal probate may not be required at all. Part of our job at the first call is telling you honestly which path applies — and choosing the simplest one that’s legally available.
What does an estate administrator actually have to handle?
Marshaling and securing assets, identifying and notifying creditors, paying valid debts, filing the decedent’s final income tax returns and any estate tax filings, keeping records, and distributing what remains to the rightful heirs or beneficiaries. The person responsible can be held accountable for getting it wrong — which is why most people bring in counsel.
What happens to debts and creditors after someone dies?
Debts don’t simply disappear, but they also don’t become the family’s personal responsibility — they’re paid from the estate. Creditors get a defined window to file claims. We notify them properly, review every claim, pay the valid ones, and dispute the ones that aren’t — so the estate isn’t overpaying and heirs aren’t exposed.
Can you help if the estate has property or heirs outside California?
Yes. Out-of-state heirs and property in more than one state are common, and they add steps — sometimes an ancillary proceeding. We coordinate the California side of the administration and work with you through the added complexity. Most of our clients handle the entire process by phone and video.
You don’t have to know anything yet. Just call.
Tell us what happened. We’ll tell you whether probate is required, what the court will need, and what it will cost — in plain language, before you decide anything. The first call is free, and there’s no retainer to talk.
Brandon Smith · CA Bar #308604 · Admitted 2015 · Granite Bay