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First Steps to Take in Preparing for Probate
Locate & Organize Important Documents: Documents like wills, trusts, life insurance policies, account statements, deeds and similar documents will provide valuable information, avoid disputes and give instructions.
Freeze Accounts: Bank should be notified of the death as soon as possible and the accounts frozen. This will avoid any future withdrawals against the account until a probate or other legal process can be used to obtain the funds.
Determine which Creditors Need to be Paid: Generally, only secured creditors and utilities should be paid. Any unsecured creditors need to file a creditor's claim to get paid. In some instances, unsecured creditors might not be paid at all and will be forced to write off the debt.
Cancel Auto-payments: Many people have various automatically recurring bills. Wherever possible, these should be cancelled to avoid any future automatic charges for services that are no longer necessary. Consult a probate attorney early. Probate law can be very complex and is not as intuitive as people believe. An attorney who regularly handles probates can answer questions, offer guidance and avoid missteps. An attorney may also present options that shorten or avoid probate altogether.
Yeager Law Estate Planning & Probate 471-2177
University Center Meeting & Event Spaces Now Available
You'll find a venue designed to support professional excellence at the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center at College of the Canyons. The University Center offers organizations an accessible, impressive venue for leadership retreats, industry conferences or corporate training sessions, with flexible meeting spaces that can accommodate groups of up to 200. Event spaces feature advanced technology like high-speed internet access, multimedia presentation capabilities and adaptable room configurations. With flexible setups tailored to your specific needs, the facilities can accommodate everything from boardroom-style meetings to banquet-style events.
cocuniversitycenter.com
Mercedes-Benz of Valencia Earns Prestigious "Best of the Best" Dealer Recognition Award
Santa Clarita Valley Dealership Recognized Among Top Performers in the Mercedes-Benz USA Nationwide Network
Mercedes-Benz of Valencia recently announced it received the Mercedes-Benz "Best of the Best" Dealer Recognition Award for 2025, one of the most distinguished honors in the Mercedes-Benz USA retail network. The Best of the Best Dealer Recognition Award recognizes top-performing Mercedes-Benz dealerships for demonstrating superior performance in Customer Satisfaction, New Vehicle Sales, Certified Pre-Owned Sales, Leadership and Management and Service and Parts Operation. Less than 10 percent of Mercedes-Benz dealerships nationwide, on average, are honored with this distinguished award, making the recognition a rare mark of excellence.
Selection criteria are based on customer satisfaction scores, vehicle sales and service and OEM parts operations - standards that dealerships throughout the United States must not only meet, but exceed, in order to be recognized. For Mercedes-Benz of Valencia, the award reflects something that General Manager Shawn Khan says has always been at the core of his dealership's culture. "This award belongs to my staff," said Khan. "They never say 'no' to a customer need, challenge or higher standard. Exceptional service is the baseline at Mercedes-Benz of Valencia."
Mercedes-Benz of Valencia has a community-driven mission: to put a Mercedes-Benz in every driveway in Santa Clarita. To make that vision a reality, the dealership offers exclusive, locals-only pricing, including sale and financing deals for Santa Clarita residents that are often too low to print or publicize. The dealership is equally committed to giving back to the SCV community. With every new vehicle sold to a local buyer, Mercedes-Benz of Valencia donates $100 to a rotating local nonprofit partner. Recent beneficiaries include the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita, Carousel Ranch and the Santa Clarita Senior Center, organizations that serve some of the valley's most vulnerable residents. "We are not just a dealership," Khan added. "We are neighbors. Santa Clarita is our home, and we take that responsibility seriously on the lot, in the service bay and in our community."
mbzvalencia.com