Many different terms and phrases are used in the context of estate planning, and these are not always completely clear. You may have heard the term decedent in the context of probate or estate planning in California, but you may feel unsure of what this means.
The term decedent is simply a formal way of referring to a deceased individual. Even when someone passes away, they may still have financial obligations, such as paying taxes or filing taxes. Trustees, executors, attorneys and other individuals may be responsible for carrying out the wishes documented by the decedent in things such as trusts or wills. In the event that a person passes away with no estate planning, these executors, trustees and attorneys may need to turn to state law to address administration of the estate.
In many cases, you will find the term “decedent” in official legal or policy language related to managing the deceased party’s affairs. In order to handle these aspects of estate administration, the appointed party will need proof of their role as personal representative, a copy of the death certificate, and information about the decedent such as date of birth and primary address.
Bear in mind that not all property owned by a decedent necessarily goes through the probate process. For example, in most cases, life insurance policies owned by the deceased are not considered part of the estate and are instead immediately distributed to the named beneficiaries on the policy rather than pending the closure of probate. If you have further questions about plans that you can take to help minimize difficulties for your loved ones when you pass away, you can speak to a Pasadena area estate planning lawyer.
