Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California
My wife died without a will. We did not own a home. We have no debt. Bank accounts were all joint. She had a $3000 life insurance policy with no named beneficiary. We have no minor children. The insurance company wants to know who the estate executor is. Do I really have to go through the probate process for a measly $3000?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Are you sure there is no named beneficiary, or that there is a beneficiary and you are not the named beneficiary? The reason I ask this is because I've never seen a valid life insurance policy with no named beneficiary.
In California when an estate is less than $150,000.00, you do not need an administrator. You should be able to fill in the California small estate affidavit and provide that to the insurance company for the $3000.00. You can google that form on line and then fill it in.