Administering a trust can be complicated, especially when the trust doesn’t have enough cash or unallocated funds to cover expenses like taxes, creditor claims, and…
Can You Lawfully Steal Your Own Inheritance? A Trust Beneficiary’s Bold Claim
An interesting fact pattern came across my desk last week. I’ve changed the facts slightly to preserve the confidence of the people involved and obtained…
Navigating Omitted Spouse Statutes in Estate Planning: A Cautionary Tale
Introduction: Proper estate planning ensures assets are distributed according to your wishes after you’re gone. However, what happens when a pre-nuptial agreement and an estate…
Administering an Intestate Estate in California: How to Transfer Real Property to a Minor
Administering an estate can be a complex and emotionally challenging process, especially when the situation involves a minor inheriting real property. In California, specific rules…
What to Do When the Sole Proprietor Dies: California Law Explained
What happens when a business owner dies? Is it possible to salvage the business on behalf of the heirs? What about the intent of the…
You Can Open California Probate Without an Attorney
California courts permit people just like you to open probate without an attorney. The probate process can be daunting for those struggling with losing a…
Removing a Bad Trustee
People select Trustees to handle the trust’s affairs after they pass on, but sometimes they die without knowing that the Trustee was a bad choice.…
Compelling a Trust Accounting When the Trust Waives Accountings
A trust declaration may waive periodic accountings. But how does a beneficiary prevent the trustee from stealing the trust’s assets and using it as a…
Selling the Family Home After a Loved One Passes Away
It’s common for people to feel sentimental about the family home, especially if they have fond memories of growing up there. However, it’s important to…
The Tale of the Secret Probate: a Dispute over $1 million
What happens when someone opens and closes probate in secret? What follows is based on fact, but at the time of this article, I do…