California law allows handwritten wills to be valid as, “holographic wills” if they meet the requirements of section 6111 of the Probate Code. That a person can informally write a handwritten will means that anyone who is unable, for any reason, to see an attorney in a timely manner can nonetheless legally express their testamentary […]
posted on: April 29, 2024
Read MoreIn addition to signing all necessary estate planning documents to put one’s affairs in order, it is necessary to consider what additional information will be needed by the persons carrying out the estate plan when the time comes. First, it is necessary for the individual named to carry out the estate plan to know that […]
posted on: April 11, 2024
Read MoreSome adult children live with their parents. Perhaps they returned home after a divorce, the loss of a job, due to a disability, and perhaps they never left. Often the parents providing free rent and utilities and even food and money to cover transportation and insurance. The children may take care of household chores. What […]
posted on: March 22, 2024
Read MoreHaving your estate planning – that is, your living trust, your will, and your designation of death beneficiary forms – up to date is crucial to securing the wellbeing of you and your family in the event of your incapacity (illness) and when you die, either one of which may come unexpectedly. Life is dynamic: […]
posted on: February 19, 2024
Read MoreIn California, people who own real property generally establish a revocable living trust, as settlors, and transfer title to their assets to themselves as trustees to avoid probate when they die. While alive, a settlor retains the separate powers to revoke and amend their living trust, so long as they have the mental capacity to […]
posted on: February 15, 2024
Read MoreThe recent appellate court decision by the First Appellate Department of the California Court of Appeals in Spears v. Spears, 97 Cal. App. 5th 1294, 2023 Cal. App., is an important change to how creditors of a decedent’s estate could satisfy their creditor’s claim against the decedent’s trust estate, under certain conditions, in the California […]
posted on: February 1, 2024
Read MoreEstate planning is a crucial aspect of securing your legacy and ensuring that your assets are distributed according to your wishes. A fundamental part of this process is creating a trust and a will, but equally important is regularly updating them to reflect the changes in your life. Let’s explore the question: How often should […]
posted on: January 23, 2024
Read MorePeople who live alone, especially seniors and dependent adults, may benefit from routine welfare checks to see if any assistance is needed. What options do seniors and dependent adults, and their families, have to be proactive about such matters. Is the senior or dependent adult’s home safe for them to live in? Perhaps the home […]
posted on: January 17, 2024
Read MoreCorporate Transparency Act On January 1, 2024, the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) became effective U.S. law. The CTA requires small domestic businesses and foreign businesses conducting business in the U.S. to report Beneficial Owner Information (“BOI”) to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCen”) regarding the business and its beneficial owners, i.e., the individuals who ultimately […]
posted on: December 22, 2023
Read MoreEstate planning is a crucial aspect of personal, property and financial management that often takes a back seat in our busy lives. Many individuals create an estate plan and consider it a one-time task. However, the truth is that it is important to regularly update your estate plan so that it continues to agree with […]
posted on: December 21, 2023
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