Household Items and Probate
Most household items, including items of trivial value, may still be subject to probate—regardless of the item’s significance or its sentimental value.
The state’s definition of “household items” is broad. A household item could be:
- A piece of furniture
- Pots and pans
- Cutlery
- A television set
- A comic book or coin collection
- Clothing
In other words, household items are those things which, in many cases, make a house a home: the everyday assets used in the owner’s everyday life.
Protecting Household Items From Probate
People who plan their estates typically want to spare their relatives from probate. After all, the probate process can be expensive and time-consuming. One of the most common methods to keep assets out of probate—including household items that may hold strong sentimental value for family members—is to transfer them into a living trust or to stipulate an inheritor through a will or beneficiary designation.
How Our Attorneys Can Help
If you want to protect your loved ones from probate, you should create a comprehensive estate plan. This not only helps you pass on your home, car, and finances, but it covers your household items, too. A California estate planning and probate attorney can create a custom-built plan that best suits your needs.
If you are currently facing probate, an attorney can alleviate the hard work of inventorying an estate and parceling out inheritances.
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