During 2010 I had a friend in California pass away. Several years prior to his death he had asked me to serve as the executor of his will. Although I tried to dissuade him of this since I was living in New Mexico at the time, he was adamant and I could not refuse him this request. I did not realize that living out of state could cause more problems than just the distance involved.
While in California for the funeral, I examined my friend’s will and decided to contact the lawyer he used to prepare that document. It was a stroke of luck for me that the lawyer happened to be Ignazio Ficara. Mr. Ficara explained the steps we would have to follow to close the estate, which by the way included real estate in the form of a residence. An example of something I would never have considered was the requirement that I be bonded since I was not a California resident.
Since the real estate market in California was in a significant down turn, disposing of the residence took much longer than I could have imagined. Over the three year time period it took to close the estate, Mr. Ficara showed tremendous patience guiding me through the probate process with its many intricacies. Also, during this time frame one of the original heirs passed away and we incorporated three new heirs into the process. All of this was done via phone con with little to no misunderstanding or contention.
I would be remiss if I did not also commend Mr. Ficara’s office staff. They unfailingly took my calls, helped me when they could, and when they could not they ensured that my concerns were conveyed to Mr. Ficara quickly and accurately. They were consistently knowledgeable, competent and, of great importance to me, friendly. I cannot thank them enough.
Mr. Ficara retains my respect and my thanks. Should I ever again find myself in deserts of California and in need of an attorney, I would not hesitate to contact Ignazio Ficara for assistance.
