Trustees hire attorneys to assist with normal trust administration and with litigation. When are the attorney fees properly paid from trust assets? In California, the law allows the trustee to pay reasonable attorney fees associated with the normal administration of the trust (See sections 16247 and 16243 of the Probate Code). Normal trust administration work […]
posted on: March 23, 2023
Read MoreAn executor bond is a type of probate bond that guarantees that if an executor or an administrator of a decedent’s estate fails to fulfill his or her duties as the personal representative — and harms the estate — that the estate can recover its damages against the value of the bond. A bond, therefore, […]
posted on: March 23, 2023
Read MoreThere are frequently asked questions that people have about revocable living trusts, wills, supported decision making agreements (new), powers of attorney and advance health care directives. Basically it is what do these documents accomplish and how do they work? California’s new Supported Decision Making (“SDM”) law allows adults with disabilities to authorize trusted persons (e.g., […]
posted on: February 16, 2023
Read MoreA not uncommon estate planning scenario is an elderly parent who lives with an adult child, either at the parent(s)’s home or at the child’s home. This scenario requires more considered estate planning to protect the arrangement in the event of the parent’s incapacity (e.g., dementia) and what happens when the parent moves out (e.g., […]
posted on: February 2, 2023
Read MoreAssets of a decedent’s estate can pass at death either with or without administration, i.e., a court supervised probate and/or a trust administration. It depends on how the decedent’s assets are titled, the gross value of the decedent’s entire estate (excluding non-probate assets) and whether the asset(s) is (are) inherited by a surviving spouse / […]
posted on: January 19, 2023
Read MoreAll living trusts, at a minimum, have one common denominator: avoiding probate. Beyond that, living trusts are not created equal. Let us discuss some of the estate planning features that a well drafted living trust often contains. A well drafted living trust administers a person’s assets during incapacity (prior to death) and at death, without […]
posted on: January 4, 2023
Read MoreTis the season to be giving. Many older adults enjoy giving money during their lifetime to family members or donations to a religious or charitable organizations. For example, a grandparent may make a generous holiday gift of money to a needy grandchild in college or to an adult child who is struggling in-between jobs. The […]
posted on: December 22, 2022
Read MoreEffective January 1, 2023, California’s Welfare and Institution Law is amended to add new sections 21000 – 21008 enacting the “Supported Decisionmaking” law (AB 1663 (2022)). [Note: The phrase, “Decision Making” is melded into a single word, “Decisionmaking”.] Supported decisionmaking is the centerpiece within the broader AB 1663 (2022) legislation that also reforms California’s Conservatorship […]
posted on: December 12, 2022
Read MoreFor many, a manufactured / mobile home is home. What happens when a California resident dies owning a manufactured or mobile home situated in California? If the manufactured or mobile home is situated on a permanent foundation and a form 433A filed with the county recorder then the manufactured or mobile home and the land […]
posted on: November 24, 2022
Read MoreIf a non-resident (non-domiciliary) decedent dies owning real property in California, the administration of the deceased non-resident’s real property in California is subject to California law. How the non-resident’s real property in California is owned (titled) in major part dictates whether the non-resident’s real property in California is subject to probate in California. If the […]
posted on: November 10, 2022
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