Most of us grew up learning that promises matter. We teach our children to keep their word and expect others to honor commitments made to us. But what happens when a loved one verbally promises you an inheritance and then passes away without putting it on their will?...
Results-Oriented: Creative, Strategic And Skilled Legal Techniques
Year: 2025
Can a trustee sell the family home without beneficiary approval?
When a loved one passes away, and a trust holds the family home, emotions often run high. For many families in California, that home represents more than an asset; it represents memories, security and a deep sense of identity. So when a trustee announces plans to sell...
Which debts must heirs pay before getting their inheritance?
When a person dies, the estate pays off bills before family members receive any money. In California, the person in charge of the estate manages this process. Knowing what to pay first helps families understand why getting an inheritance can take time. How heirs pay...
What’s required for a will in California?
All adults should have an estate plan that outlines what they want to happen with their assets when they pass away. A will is one option that’s available to do this. Because a will is a legal document that might need to be enforced by the court, it is critical to have...
Can your family just ignore your living will?
Part of making an estate plan may include making future medical decisions. One way to do this is with a living will. It allows you to make decisions in advance about things like using a feeding tube, being kept on life support, being resuscitated and other matters of...
Can personal representatives reject creditors’ claims?
When someone dies here in California, their estate must go through probate before any assets can be passed on to their heirs and beneficiaries. Part of that process involves the estate paying off any outstanding claims from creditors who submit bills to the estate....
Has a trustee refused to make appropriate distributions?
People create trusts for many different purposes. Those who want to provide support for a family member with special needs might fund a trust. People concerned about creditor claims against their personal property might establish trusts to protect their assets. ...
What you need to know about contesting a will in California
It is important that a person’s last wishes are respected after they pass away. However, there may be issues with a will or how a will was created that can leave loved ones confused and worried about how the deceased’s estate is managed. If family members and loved...
Why do sentimental items lead to estate disputes?
People often assume that their beneficiaries may get into estate disputes over major items. Maybe their parents’ house is incredibly valuable, and some beneficiaries want to keep it, while others simply want to sell it so they can get a portion of the money. They are...
Undue influence and a position of power in estate planning
Undue influence is sometimes a reason for litigation over an estate plan, a will, or even a trust. Essentially, it is an allegation that someone else influenced the person who was creating that plan. They would not have set the plan up this way on their own but were...
