Estate Planning

New Law Makes It Easy To Cancel Services

By Jennifer Sawday

California Probate Code Section 217 prohibits businesses, such as the cable company, telephone company and other companies doing business in California from requiring or demanding a person who is handling a decedent's affairs to come to their facility or office to handle the cancellation of services in person.

What does this mean?

It means that when you call or write to the local utility company, cable company or any other business in California to cancel services for someone who has died -- they can't give you the run around. Sure, they might try, but there's a new law to protect you.

Best thing to do is to make your request to cancel such services in writing to have a paper trail and document in what capacity you are handling the decedent's affairs (say, as trustee, personal representative or surviving spouse to name a few).

If you need more assistance in handling a decedent's affairs, please consult with a probate or trust administration attorney for more advice for your situation.

________
Estate Planning, Probate and Trusts involve complex areas of law. Individual circumstances must be considered before any advice can be given.  The general information above is not to be construed as legal advice, which can only be given after consideration of the unique facts of each matter. Please seek the advice or counsel of your attorney, financial advisor or CPA as it may be appropriate.

Full post as published by Estate Planning Practice Blog on April 24, 2008 (boomark / email).