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Probate, handled.

Alix takes on probate and estate settlement. Licensed attorneys from our network handle the included legal work. Your dedicated Estate Settlement Specialist handles the estate tasks outside court. One team puts the plan into action.

You stay the executor and decision-maker. Alix handles forms, filings, assets, debts, taxes, property, accounts, and family updates.

See if Alix can help Understand your probate path
Probate filing and legal supportA licensed attorney from our network handles the included legal work.
150+ admin tasks handledProperty, accounts, debts, taxes, records, and family updates.
One transparent feeSee the work and price for your estate before you decide.

Probate is one piece of the job. Alix handles the estate work.

Opening probate can give an executor authority to act, but it does not locate accounts, protect the home, resolve debts, complete tax work, close accounts, or keep beneficiaries informed. Alix takes on that work alongside the included legal work.

See your plan and price
  1. 01
    Understand the estate

    Your Alix specialist reviews the location, will or trust, assets, debts, real estate, family situation, and work already completed.

  2. 02
    Build one probate plan

    Your Alix team sets out the court path, included legal work, filing sequence, estate tasks, and decisions that need your input.

  3. 03
    Move with you at every step

    Your dedicated team handles the included case and estate tasks while you remain informed and in control.

Probate rules, costs, lawyers, and courts by state.

Probate law, filing requirements, fees, forms, timelines, and small-estate procedures depend on the state and the local court. Choose your state to see the probate information that applies.

Start with the state. Finish with the right local court.State law sets the rules; the county court controls the filing office, local forms, and case procedure.
Map of the United States showing probate is governed state by state
Probate is governed by state law and administered through local courts.

Alix supports families nationwide. Choose a state below, or talk to an expert if your state is not listed yet.

Showing California probate options.

Local guides are listed alphabetically for the selected state.

California probate

Understand formal probate, estimate statutory compensation and other costs, find forms, compare legal support, and locate county-specific court information.

Explore California probate
A family embracing at home

California probate topics

California probateThe formal probate process and next steps California probate costAttorney fees, executor compensation, and other expenses California probate lawyerLegal support compared with complete estate settlement California probate formsForms organized by the stage of the case California small estateSimpler transfer options and eligibility California probate timelineStages, timing, and common sources of delay
California counties and citiesBrowse local probate information
Los Angeles County probateLos Angeles County probate lawyer Sacramento County probateSan Bernardino County probate San Joaquin County probateSanta Clara County probate Contra Costa County probateSan Francisco County probate San Mateo County probateSolano County probate Fresno County probateStanislaus County probate Placer County probateMarin County probate Butte County probateSanta Cruz County probate Monterey County probateEl Dorado County probate Shasta County probateNapa County probate Orange County probate lawyerRiverside County probate lawyer San Diego County probate lawyerAlameda County probate lawyer Ventura County probate lawyerSonoma County probate lawyerKern County probate lawyer

What can Alix handle during probate?

Alix takes on the court process and the estate tasks around it. Licensed attorneys from our network handle the included court filings and legal advice. Your Estate Settlement Specialist handles the day-to-day estate work.

01

Probate court filing

Alix organizes the filing records. A licensed attorney from our network handles the included court filings when required by the state or the situation.

02

Forms and records

Alix organizes the will, death certificates, deeds, statements, and family records. A licensed attorney from our network prepares or reviews legal forms when required.

03

Asset discovery

Alix locates property and accounts, checks ownership and beneficiaries, documents value, and maps the transfer route.

04

Debts and creditors

Alix handles creditor outreach, tracks bills and claims, organizes supporting records, and follows up on payment requirements.

05

Tax work

Alix organizes the tax records. CPAs from our network handle the tax work included in your plan, including applicable final individual and estate tax filings.

06

Account closures

Alix contacts banks, insurers, subscription providers, benefit programs, and other institutions to handle account closures or transfers.

07

Property and home

Alix handles property tasks in your plan, including protection, insurance, maintenance, valuation, title work, cleanout, sale preparation, or transfer.

08

Family and distribution

Alix keeps beneficiaries informed, documents decisions, prepares transfers, and handles the included accounting and closing tasks.

When is probate required?

Probate is commonly required when your loved one owned property without a valid beneficiary, right of survivorship, or ownership in a funded trust. Answer three questions, then speak with Alix about putting the next steps into action.

The asset type, value, ownership record, and state law decide whether the next step is formal probate, a small-estate procedure, or a direct transfer.

Different assets can follow different routes. For example, one account may have a valid named beneficiary while another asset has none of the transfer arrangements listed below. You can answer “Yes” to both questions 1 and 2 for different assets. If you are unsure, choose “I do not know.” A beneficiary here means a designation on an account or asset, not just someone named in a will. A funded trust actually owns the asset.

1. Did your loved one own any property without a valid beneficiary, right of survivorship, or ownership in a funded trust?
2. Do any assets have a valid beneficiary, right of survivorship, or ownership in a funded trust?
3. Is there real estate owned in your loved one's name?

How this guide works

This three-question checklist helps you start a conversation with Alix about the estate work. It uses fixed rules, not AI, and offers seven types of next step across California, Florida, Texas and another-state answers.

For a listed state, an uncertain answer comes first. Otherwise, mixed assets need separate review, real estate needs a deed review, and other answers lead to transfer-document, state-procedure or ownership checks. Another-state answers start with an asset inventory. These are record-review steps, not legal conclusions.

This guide does not calculate an estate-value limit or decide whether probate is required. Its starting principles come from California Courts, the Florida Bar and Texas State Law Library. An Alix expert reviews the details before confirming the service scope. Your answers stay in this page and are not submitted or saved.

Alix can take on the probate and estate settlement work, with licensed legal and tax professionals from our network when needed. Talk to an Alix expert to confirm the scope for your estate. These answers are a starting point, not legal advice or a decision about whether probate is required. This quiz does not submit your answers or open a case.

How do you start probate without managing it alone?

The legal starting point is the correct court and opening petition. The practical starting point is a complete picture of the estate, so the filing and the work outside court move together.

Get a probate plan
  1. 01

    Tell us what has happened

    Share the state, will or trust, family situation, assets, real estate, debts, and work already completed.

    About 60 seconds to begin
  2. 02

    Confirm the court path

    Your Alix team and network attorney review the estate records to identify the appropriate process, filing location, documents and first steps.

    One coordinated plan
  3. 03

    Move the case and estate forward

    Licensed attorneys from our network handle the included probate legal work. Your Alix team handles the estate tasks across property, accounts, debts, taxes, records, and family updates.

    Legal + operational support

Probate lawyer or complete probate support?

A probate lawyer's engagement typically covers legal work, rather than the estate's day-to-day administration. Check the scope of the engagement. Alix includes legal support through licensed attorneys from our network and handles the estate tasks across property, accounts, creditors, records, taxes and beneficiaries.

Compare what is included before choosing probate help
What to compareProbate attorneyAlix Estate SettlementRecommended for complete support
Licensed legal workLegal advice, court filings, hearings, disputes, and representation described in the engagement.A licensed attorney from our network handles the probate legal work included in the Alix service at no additional cost. Your quote explains the covered work and any separate costs.
Probate operationsAsk whether accounts, property, institutions, tax coordination, records, and family updates are included or remain with the executor.An Estate Settlement Specialist handles accounts, property, institutions, records, deadlines, tax work, and beneficiary updates.
Everyday admin and propertySubscription cancellations, account follow-up and home-sale arrangements may remain with the executor unless included in the engagement.Alix handles tasks in your plan, such as cancelling subscriptions, closing accounts and arranging home-sale support with our partner Trust Properties. You approve the decisions.
CoordinationThe executor usually coordinates work and providers outside the legal engagement.Your Alix team carries out the included case and estate work through one plan, rather than leaving you to manage separate providers.
Fee basisGet a written engagement that lists the fee method, included legal work, extraordinary work, expenses, and anything outside scope.One transparent fee covers the attorney and CPA work from our network included in your plan. On your first call, you’ll see the full service fee, what’s covered and any separate estate expenses. Your team takes on the calls, forms and follow-ups, not just a checklist.
Best fitAn executor who can manage the broader estate and needs a licensed professional for the legal work.An executor who wants one team to handle the included legal and operational work while staying in control of the decisions.

Not sure which scope matches the estate?

Talk to an ExpertSee how Alix works

What happens during probate?

During probate, a court appoints an executor or administrator, also called a personal representative, to manage the estate. That person handles notices, debts and asset transfers, with court oversight that varies by state. Alix takes on the included estate tasks, with licensed attorneys from our network handling the legal steps. You stay in control of the decisions.

Having a will doesn’t mean you skip probate. Accounts with a valid named beneficiary, such as a 401(k) or IRA, usually pass outside it. Smaller estates may qualify for a simpler process, depending on state law and the estate details.

  1. 01
    Protect the estateYour Alix team arranges protection for homes, vehicles, accounts, records, mail, and insurance while authority is being established.
  2. 02
    Map every assetAlix records the owner, beneficiary, value, institution, and transfer route for each account and property.
  3. 03
    Open the right caseA licensed attorney from our network handles the included petition and court filings, with the records organized by your Alix team.
  4. 04
    Notify and manageYour Alix team handles creditor follow-up, property, accounts, deadlines, and records alongside the included legal work.
  5. 05
    Resolve obligationsAlix handles the included debt, expense, and tax tasks, with licensed professionals from our network addressing legal issues and required court approvals.
  6. 06
    Distribute and closeAlix carries out the included transfers, accounting, and closing tasks after the required decisions and approvals.

Who does the work during probate?

You remain the executor or court-appointed representative and decision-maker. Alix takes on the estate workload, with licensed professionals from our network handling the included legal and tax work.

Court-facing work

Probate case

  • Petition, notices, and court filings
  • Letters testamentary or another court paper proving authority to act
  • Creditor procedures and required waiting periods
  • Inventories, accountings, hearings, and court orders
  • Final distribution and closing documents
Executor-facing work

Property, accounts, and people

  • Homes, vehicles, valuables, insurance, and maintenance
  • Bank, investment, retirement, and digital accounts
  • Bills, mail, records, tax work, and reimbursements
  • Institution follow-up and beneficiary communication
  • Decisions, receipts, deadlines, and a defensible paper trail
Alix handles both sides

A licensed attorney from our network handles the included legal work. Your Alix team handles the estate tasks through one plan, with your Estate Settlement Specialist keeping you informed.

See if Alix can handle it

How much does probate cost, and how long does it take?

Probate has no single national price or timeline. State rules, court schedules, and estate complexity affect both. Alix explains the included work and fee before you decide, then handles that work and tracks deadlines.

Find probate costs and timelines for your state
What changes the cost01
  • Court and filing requirementsPetitions, notices, publication, appraisals, and bonds when required.
  • Legal and professional workAttorney scope, tax work, valuations, disputes, or extraordinary issues.
  • Property and administrationInsurance, maintenance, cleanout, sale preparation, and ongoing estate expenses.
What changes the timeline02
  • Required waiting periodsState notice, creditor, hearing, and closing rules set the minimum pace.
  • Court and record readinessCalendar availability, complete filings, and organized records affect movement.
  • Assets and conflictProperty sales, taxes, missing people, claims, and disputes can extend the case.

Which assets go through probate?

Assets owned only in your loved one’s name and lacking a valid direct-transfer arrangement commonly enter probate. The title, deed, beneficiary record, or trust ownership, not the will alone, determines the starting route.

Commonly enters probate

Property with no direct transfer path

  • Real estate with only your loved one’s name on the deed
  • Bank or investment accounts with no beneficiary or joint owner
  • Vehicles, business interests, refunds, and personal property owned individually
  • Individually owned property without a valid transfer arrangement, whether or not there is a will
Often transfers outside probate

Property with a valid transfer instruction

  • Accounts or policies with an eligible named beneficiary
  • Joint property with enforceable survivorship rights
  • Transfer-on-death or payable-on-death accounts and deeds
  • Property actually owned by a trust, not just mentioned in trust documents
Start with the ownership record.

The same estate can have property inside probate and property that transfers directly. Alix builds the asset inventory and handles the included transfer tasks through the applicable process.

Use the probate route checker

What probate forms and documents are needed?

Alix organizes the records across these five stages. Licensed attorneys from our network prepare or review the included legal documents and handle court filings. Requirements vary by state and court.

Find forms for your state
  1. 01Before filingDeath certificates, original will, trust documents, deeds, statements, family information, and an initial asset list.
  2. 02Open the casePetition, appointment papers, proposed orders, notices, consents, waivers, and bond information when required.
  3. 03Prove authorityCourt papers proving authority to act, such as letters testamentary or letters of administration, for banks and other institutions.
  4. 04AdministerInventory, valuations, creditor documents, receipts, tax records, sale records, and beneficiary communications.
  5. 05CloseAccounting, distribution schedule, receipts, final petition, proposed order, and discharge documents as required.

Can a small estate avoid full probate?

Many states offer an affidavit or simplified procedure, but “small” is a legal test. Alix reviews the estate details and explains the work the team can take on under the applicable process.

Check your state's process
1

Which property counts?

Beneficiary, joint, transfer-on-death, and trust assets may follow a different route.

2

Is real estate involved?

Land or a home can trigger a different limit, affidavit, or court procedure.

3

What does state law require?

The state controls the value limit, waiting period, signatures, notices, and filing location.

Explore probate by question.

Choose the probate question you need answered, then use the state hub to reach the applicable rules, forms, fees, attorney support, timeline, or local court.

Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Los Angeles

Which probate court handles the case?

The correct probate court usually depends on the county connected to your loved one’s residence or property. Your Alix team identifies the filing location, and a licensed attorney from our network handles the included court filings. The links here are examples, not a complete county list. Use the state, county and city browser for all available local guides.

Browse probate information by state, county, and city

How Alix handles probate and related estate work.

Alix does the work, not just the planning. Licensed professionals from our network handle the included legal and tax work, while your Alix team handles property, accounts, debts, records, and beneficiary updates. Your Estate Settlement Specialist keeps it all moving.

  • Probate filing and legal support when required
  • Hands-on work across property, accounts, debts, taxes, and records
  • One organized workspace for tasks, documents, progress, and family access
See if Alix can helpSee how Alix works
Alix app showing an organized estate settlement workspace

What families say after Alix steps in.

Real clients describe the difference between carrying the work alone and having one team move it forward.

“Alix made the whole process so much easier and far less overwhelming.”

Angela D.Co-Executor · Maine

“They stepped in, figured everything out, and got the ball rolling.”

Barbara B.Family Member · Michigan

“What felt impossible suddenly became manageable.”

Genevieve L.Executor · California

Probate questions, answered.

Get clear answers about probate and the work Alix takes on. Your expert will explain the service scope for your estate before you decide.

Talk to an Expert
What is probate?

Probate is the court process for authorizing an executor or administrator, also called a personal representative, to act for an estate. That person addresses valid debts and transfers property that cannot pass directly to another owner or beneficiary. Court oversight and required steps vary by state.

When is probate required?

Probate is commonly required when your loved one owned property without a valid beneficiary, right of survivorship, or ownership in a funded trust. State law, asset type, value, and ownership records determine the available process.

How long does probate take?

Probate timing depends on state waiting periods, the court calendar, creditor procedures, tax work, property sales, disputes, and the completeness of the estate records. The applicable state and local court rules determine the timeline.

How much does probate cost?

Probate costs can include court filing fees, publication, appraisals, bonds, attorney or professional fees, tax work, and property expenses. The total depends on state law, estate complexity, and whether disputes or extraordinary work arise.

Do I need a probate lawyer?

Whether a probate lawyer is required depends on the jurisdiction and the case. Legal help is especially important when there are disputes, unclear ownership, contested appointments, complex assets, creditor problems, or tax issues.

What assets go through probate?

Assets owned only in your loved one’s name and lacking a valid direct-transfer arrangement commonly enter probate. Assets with a valid beneficiary designation, joint ownership with survivorship rights, a transfer-on-death instruction, or actual trust ownership often transfer outside probate.

What happens when there is no will?

Probate can still proceed without a will. The court appoints an administrator, also called a personal representative, to act for the estate. State law determines which relatives inherit property that needs probate. Alix handles the settlement tasks included in your plan, with licensed attorneys from our network handling legal work.

Who pays probate costs?

Authorized probate expenses are generally paid from estate funds, subject to state law, available cash, court requirements, and the executor or administrator's duty to document and prioritize payments correctly.

How is Alix different from hiring only a probate lawyer?

A probate lawyer handles the legal work in their engagement. Alix handles the included legal work through licensed attorneys from our network and takes on the estate tasks across assets, debts, property, taxes, accounts, records, and beneficiary updates. Your Estate Settlement Specialist keeps you informed while the team does the work.

What happens on an introductory call with Alix?

An Alix expert reviews your situation and explains the work the team would handle, including any licensed legal and tax work. You receive the estate-specific scope and flat-fee quote before deciding. There is no commitment required for the introductory call.

Can Alix help if probate has already started?

Yes. Alix reviews the work already completed and can take on the remaining tasks included in your plan. Licensed professionals from our network handle any included legal and tax work. The team confirms the scope based on the estate, current court status, location, and any disputed issues.

Sources and legal information

Alix takes on estate settlement work, with licensed professionals from our network handling the included legal and tax work. An Alix expert can explain the scope for your estate. This page provides general information, not legal or tax advice. State law, the court, the estate documents, and the facts of the case control the outcome.

See whether Alix can handle your probate and estate.

Share the location, assets, family situation, and work already completed. An Alix expert will explain the fit, next steps, and flat-fee scope with no commitment required.

See your plan and price