Yoakum, TX Estate Planning Law Firms & Lawyers

Yes. There is no law requiring that the executor or administrator of the estate be a California resident. The Court will look at the directive in your father's will in order to determine who should be the executor; and will look at the controlling California statute as to who should be the estate's administrator if there is no will. You should contact a probate lawyer in California to assist you in this matter, and provide you with guidance as to whether it is appropriate for you to be named in charge of your father's estate. The fact that you do not live in California, however, is not an automatic barrier here.

You can make the claim. The family is going to say the services were gratuitous. There are deadlines for making a claim in an estate, so if you're going to do it, do it soon.

You are confused or have been misinformed. A Power of Attorney is only used for a living person. Once a person has died, any Power of Attorney terminates upon death. At this point, if there is an estate, you need to be named Personal Representative of the estate. That requires probate proceedings. It is a highly technical process and should not be attempted without the assistance of an attorney.