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…
Probate Tips: Things to do before you list the real estate for sale.
On KNZR every Saturday at 11 a.m. and every Sunday at 8 a.m., Laurie McCarty hosts the “Kern County Real Estate Review.” Today’s topic: Probate…
The Zen of Trial: Finding peace during litigation
Learn how to start your case on the right foot. When you start your trial correctly, you will avoid financial and emotional stress during your…
Reduce the Cost of Administration with a Spousal Property Petition
If your spouse or domestic partner passed away, use this trick to reduce the cost of probate or avoid probate altogether. Use a Spousal Property…
In what county do I hire a Probate Attorney?
The legal term for “where” a probate action occurs is called the “venue.” So, what is the proper venue for your probate action? Yesterday was…
Creative Problem Solving in Probate Sales
Leah Nelson is a Bakersfield Realtor with a special certification: Probate & Trust Specialist. We ate lunch at Sequoia Sandwich Company and discussed our experiences in…
Elder abuse is not always easy to identify
I’m a law clerk, and I spend 80% of my day working on Probate and Estate Planning matters. (Estate Planning is the way people avoid…
Can you rent out an inherited property without completing probate?
Can you rent out an inherited property without completing probate? I’ve been asked if a person can start renting out a property that he or…