Estate plans are created with the goal of avoiding California probate, but the reality is probate cannot always be prevented. Even well-intentioned planning can fall short if certain details are overlooked or circumstances change over time. Understanding when probate isREAD MORE
Avoid California Probate
Losing someone you love is difficult enough. Facing a long, costly probate process can make things even worse. Fortunately, California offers simplified options for modest estates that allow families to bypass full probate. One such option is a small estateREAD MORE
When a major celebrity passes away, the news often sparks curiosity and interest beyond the salacious details of their personal lives. The public also has a voracious appetite for any scoop dealing with how they managed — or failed toREAD MORE
When it comes to the process of setting up a living trust, most people focus on the initial steps: establishing goals, creating documents, and signing documents. But there’s a critical final step that’s often overlooked — changing the name ofREAD MORE
A Lesson in Preparation The passing of a grandparent is a moment of reflection, remembrance, and often grief. However, when a grandparent departs without an estate plan, it can introduce complexity and stress during an already emotional time. This articleREAD MORE
Regardless of the preferred record-keeping mode, most people have some sort of digital footprint, making it important to know who would have access to your digital assets if you became incapacitated and how those assets would be distributed in the event you pass away.
Probate court is a segment of the judicial system that oversees the execution of wills as well as the handling of estates, conservatorships and guardianships.
People who have had a serious case of COVID-19 are 66% more likely to engage in estate planning, and 32% of adults under 35 said they wrote a will because of the pandemic.
A competent elder law or estate attorney can discuss and use, where appropriate, such provisions as the family exemption, benefits to prepaying inheritance tax, even where the tax return is not yet complete and a listing of itemized deductions.
The law requires probate for a good reason. If a person dies, probate ensures that the property goes to the people who are supposed to inherit it.