Administering an estate entails legal responsibilities that require careful attention to detail. While social media is a common way to share life updates, posting about estate matters can lead to legal and personal complications that are best avoided. Ultimately,...
The loss of a loved one is a traumatic experience, but it can be made much worse if people mourning that loss are contacted by creditors to ask for money because the decedent owed them money. Creditors have the option of turning to the estate to collect any money...
Life's journey has many chapters, and sadly, the final one is inevitable for everyone. Losing a family member is never easy, and the days following their passing can be overwhelming. It's natural to hope that everything will settle itself out, but some matters,...
Disputing a will can be a complex legal process, particularly when a challenge is based on claims of undue influence. This concept arises when someone is believed to have manipulated or pressured a vulnerable individual into altering their will to unfairly benefit the...
Managing a high-net-worth estate is a complex and demanding task. Executors often take on intricate legal and financial responsibilities that can be overwhelming, especially during a time of grief. When managing a complex, valuable estate, it is common to face...
Testators putting together estate plans frequently want to pass as much of their personal property to specific beneficiaries as possible. One of the strategies for maximizing what beneficiaries receive involves keeping as much of someone's property as possible out of...
The Benjamin Franklin quote that “nothing is certain except death and taxes” may be going through your head as you realize that, as the executor of the estate of a loved one or friend who passed away last year, you’re required to file their final income tax returns....
Taxes are often among the financial obligations people must settle during estate administration. In fact, tax responsibilities take priority over numerous other financial obligations during the probate process in California. Tax authorities have a stronger claim to...
You may be somewhat relieved to find a will in your loved one’s home after they passed away – especially if you feared they never got around to writing one. But what if you find more than one will? That’s the dilemma a lot of families face. Often, when there is more...
Assets are typically passed to the next generation through an estate plan. This can be done in many ways. Some people will simply put the assets into their will and let the estate executor divide them. Others will transfer assets into trusts with a set beneficiary who...