DeAngelis Legal assisted two new clients to open informal probate to transfer assets out of the deceased person’s name.  In both situations, the deceased person failed to transfer the asset to their trust and the account custodian (one a financial institution and the other a title company) required “Letters of Personal Representative” before they would transfer the assets.  DeAngelis Legal assisted the beneficiaries with all filings with the probate court to get appointed.  And yes, both situations could have been avoided with a properly drafted beneficiary designation or the transfer of the asset to a trust.