Avoid Probate Before It's Too Late
Because our clients usually hire us after their hoarding relative has passed, we find that many of the hoarded homes they need us to clear are in probate, usually for one of two reasons:
The sad fact is that probate cases among hoarders is very high. In addition to the factors listed above, many serious hoarders simply do not have the ability to provide clear instructions on what to do after their passing. Confusion, fear, anger, or other mental states can make it impossible. Who to Turn To to Avoid Probate
An alarming number of such cases exist and add tremendous cost, anxiety, and stress for the whole family. Who to turn to? Which family member is burdened with this added responsibility? Probate is very expensive and can take a year or more to settle in California courts. Costs can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars to hire a probate attorney, court costs, etc. We have had clients whose relative’s estates have been in probate for more than three years!
If you have a relative who is a hoarder, the best plan is to get prepared. If you’re able to communicate with your hoarding relative, ask them if they have created a will or a trust. Do they know where to find it, and are they willing to let you, or someone else in the family, hang onto it? If not, will they allow you to take photos of the documents they have? If they’re able (or willing) to listen, explain the costs and the difficulties of estate probate. Remember that you don’t have to handle this alone. Contact an estate attorney for advise on how to prevent probate—this will turn out to be enormously less costly than dealing with probate after the fact. At Clutter&Hoarding Pros, we have worked many times with estate and probate attorneys, helping clients sort through the mess that results when a hoarding relative dies, and we know from experience that it’s much better to be prepared than to try and pick up the pieces afterwards. Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help
If you feel you’re going to have to deal with the hoarded estate of a relative, Contact Us and we'll refer you to estate attorneys that we have worked with, then help you figure out a plan to deal with the estate clearing when it does arise.
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AuthorMichelle Quintana Featured Service Information
• Hoarding Clearout Saves More than "Stuff" · Why Clients Hire—and Trust— Clutter&Hoarding Pros · Levels IV & V Clear-Out · Is My Loved One a Hoarder? • After the Clean-Out • Animal Hoarding • Decluttering for the Elderly • What Is a Hoarding Clean- Out? • Hoarding vs. Clutter • Hoarding Help in Orange County • Hoarding Help in LA County • How to Choose a Hoarding Clean-Out Company • Why a Junk-Hauling Service Is NOT What You Need! • Paper, Paper, Everywhere! • Are You a Concerned Third Party? • Estate Clearing for a Loved One—You're Not Alone • Clearing a Hoarded Estate During the Holidays • Where Do You Fit In? • Deep Cleaning a Cleared Estate • "That's okay, we have insurance . . ." • Planning to Sell Your Hoarded Estate? • In-Home Assessment for Hoarding Remediation-- Second Step to Success • Is Your Relative's Home Red-Tagged? • 7 Simple Step to a Successful Estate Sale |