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...
Welcoming a grandchild into your life is one of the most exciting milestones you can experience. Along with this joy, many grandparents begin thinking about how to secure a bright future for their growing family. This post outlines how an estate plan can help you meet...
You may want to put assets into a trust as part of your estate plan. This can give you some control over how those assets are used in the future. For instance, you could set aside money to pay for a beneficiary’s college education. However, you may be worried about...
Many parents who are small business owners may have always assumed that they would pass the company on to their children. They believe the business will stay in the family. They see it as a valuable asset and want to leave it to the next generation. This is common...
If you decide to disinherit someone, it means you are removing them from your estate plan. In some cases, this person may be a direct relative, such as an adult child who would ordinarily inherit assets unless your estate plan specifically says that they should not....
It’s not unusual after someone dies for loved ones to end up fighting over things that the deceased person never thought about, rather than the home, investment and retirement accounts and other high-value assets. That’s largely because people are more likely to...