When it's used
At estate opening after the decedent's death, to brief the attorney on the petition's completeness and key facts.
Definition
A Petition for Probate summary memo is an internal document the paralegal prepares to accompany or brief the supervising attorney on a DE-111 Petition for Probate, the Judicial Council form used under California Probate Code §8000 et seq. to formally open a decedent’s estate in the superior court. The memo summarizes the key facts in the petition—the decedent’s death date, the estimated gross estate value, the identity of proposed personal representative, the nature of the will (if any), and the names of heirs and beneficiaries—and flags any issues requiring attorney attention before filing, such as a missing will, competing petitions, or beneficiaries who are minors. The paralegal also confirms that all required attachments (the original will, death certificate, and bond waiver if applicable) are assembled and that the filing fee is calculated correctly. A thorough review memo enables the attorney to approve the petition with confidence before it is filed and the statutory notice period begins to run.