You can only put off business succession planning so long. During your lifetime, you were always a good steward of your company. After your final exit, you want to make sure that your company transitions and operates in perpetuity. So, where’s a good place to start?...
Being the executor (also known as personal representative) of a loved one’s estate after they’ve passed away can feel like an overwhelming responsibility. Most people take that responsibility very seriously and want to ensure that they fully carry out the deceased’s...
Over the years, there have been negative repercussions associated with spendthrift trusts. Typically, the most common issue is that beneficiaries resent the restrictions on their disbursements. They come to view it as a type of dead-hand control. Read on to learn...
Alternative dispute resolution tactics, such as mediation, often offer two parties an option to avoid litigation. If they cannot find a resolution, litigation may still be necessary, as they go to court and have a judge make a ruling. But ADR can sometimes streamline...
As a business owner, it is crucial to create a business succession plan as you consider how you are going to transfer ownership of your company to someone else. This may be part of estate planning as you grow older, and it may be an intentional step that you take when...
The probate courts oversee the administration of estates. They help ensure that a personal representative follows the will of the deceased party in many cases. Other times, they may need to follow the instructions for property distribution included in intestate...
Litigation can be an unpredictable, downright volatile process. Individuals and business leaders embroiled in litigation never know what the other party might claim in court. They might also struggle to accurately predict how a judge may respond to the lawsuit....
If you own valuable real estate in California, protecting it for your family often becomes more urgent as you age. Property values rise. Laws change. Health concerns can appear without warning. Trust planning can help you keep control and prepare for what comes next...
You may have previously been asked to be an executor of a friend’s or relative’s estate. Alternatively, a court may have appointed you as administrator of a decedent’s estate. Either way, the two jobs carry a lot of responsibility that not everyone is able to...
When a person passes away, their estate is managed according to the last wishes left in their will. But what happens when someone passes away without a will? Dying without a will is called intestacy. Intestacy can create a lot of difficulties for loved ones after a...