“My situation is simple.”
We hear that phrase all the time at Voorhees Law Group. And more often than not, it is followed by a story that is anything but simple.
Families do not plan to end up in probate. They assume their estate is too small, too straightforward, or too obvious to get tangled up in court. Unfortunately, probate does not care how simple things seem.
A Story We See Far Too Often
Take Linda.
Linda was a widow living a modest life. Her house was paid off. She had one checking account, one savings account, and a small investment account she barely thought about. No complicated family dynamics. No business interests. No major debts.
When her husband passed away years earlier, everything transferred smoothly. So she assumed the same would happen for her children one day.
It didn’t.
When Linda passed away, her family uncovered one small detail that changed everything. Years earlier, after her husband died, Linda had opened a new bank account in her name alone. There was no beneficiary listed.
That one account triggered probate.
Suddenly, what everyone expected to be simple turned into months of court filings, legal notices, and waiting. The estate had to go through the full probate process just to access that single account. The cost, stress, and delay far outweighed the value of what was even in it.
All because one asset was not aligned with a plan.
Why “Simple” Estates End Up in Probate
This is not unusual. Even small, uncomplicated estates can end up in California probate when details are overlooked.
Common reasons include:
- Assets titled in one name with no joint owner
- Accounts without beneficiary designations
- Outdated documents that no longer reflect current wishes
- Real estate not placed into a trust
In California, real estate alone is often enough to trigger probate if it is not properly planned for, regardless of the home’s value.
The truth is this: assuming simplicity is far riskier than planning for it.
What Estate Planning Really Does
Estate planning is not about making things complicated. It is about making sure everything works the way you expect it to.
A well coordinated plan helps:
- Accounts transfer smoothly
- Property avoid unnecessary court involvement
- Loved ones avoid delays, costs, and confusion
- Your wishes stay clear and legally enforceable
Planning is what keeps a simple situation truly simple.
Simple Requires Intention
If you want your estate to stay out of probate, it cannot be based on assumptions. It needs to be intentional, coordinated, and reviewed.
At Voorhees Law Group, we help families identify the small details that often create big problems later and fix them before they ever reach a courtroom.
If you want to keep your plan truly simple, now is the time to make sure everything is in order.
Request a Consultation and let’s confirm your plan works the way you think it does.