Providing expert guidance through the probate process, The Rutter Group's California Practice Guide: Probate covers premortem planning to opening a probate through creditor claims, distributions, and discharge. It thoroughly treats nonprobate alternatives, spousal set-asides, and estate and fiduciary income taxes, and extensively discusses will contests and other probate litigation. The text integrates local rules, cites the latest cases available plus statutes and rules of court, and features illustrations that are based on actual cases. Contents cover:

• Alternatives to probate
• Commencing probate
• Marshaling assets
• Creditor claims
• Investing and preserving estate assets
• Sale of estate assets
• Passage of property to surviving spouse/domestic partner
• IAEA administration
• Accountings and distributions
• Compensation and discharge
• Estate and fiduciary income taxes
• Deathbed and postmortem tax planning
• Will contests and other probate litigation

Each topic and procedure is developed step by step, showing you what, when, where and how to proceed. You'll also find proven strategies, tactics, and time-saving tips from experienced practitioners and sample practice-tested forms with comments and suggestions for their use.