When a loved one dies in California, their estate must be taken care of. This can include their home, which may have a mortgage on it. If this is the case, it's important for you to understand the process of handling the mortgage during the probate process. Contacting...
Financial abuse of the elderly does not get the same attention as physical abuse, but yet it is a serious concern. Nothing is more heartbreaking than a child, financial advisor or caregiver taking advantage of an elderly person by manipulating the finances or through...
Proper estate planning uses both simple wills and living trusts to help ensure your assets are handled according to your wishes after your death. Consider the key differences between them in order to design the best estate plan. What benefits do wills provide? The...
Some California residents are the subject of a conservatorship. Sadly, some conservators overstep their bounds and commit conservatorship abuse. What is a conservatorship? A conservatorship is a legal process that gives a person control over the finances and major...
Experiencing the death of a loved one is never an easy time. Unfortunately, mourning the death of a parent becomes more difficult if you're involved in an estate battle with one or all of your siblings. If you and your siblings are part of heated estate disputes in...
Under California inheritance laws, intestate succession is the process that determines the distribution of a person’s estate assets if no will or testament existed at the time of death. Unlike a last will, the inheritance laws are free from challenge by loved ones or...
For the second time in two years, Michelle C. Bartolic, Esq. – partner since 2021 – has received recognition as a SuperLawyers Rising Star. Currently, she exclusively practices in litigated and contested matters. An accomplished background Michelle started practicing...
Many California adults have no estate plan, despite the fact that they probably need one. Even if you have very few assets, it’s usually better to have something on the record about how you want them to be distributed. Your estate plan can also explain your medical...
Most California residents think of elder abuse as physical abuse or neglect that occurs in nursing homes. However, financial abuse of an elderly person can also happen. It’s important to recognize the signs of this abuse at the hands of your loved one’s guardian or...
Joseph E. Patton, Esq. has received his third consecutive and highly coveted Super Lawyers Rising Star award for 2022. This is not his only recognition, as he awaits taking on the Chair of the Orange County Bar Association – Conservatorship, Guardianship, and...