California often is thought of as the place young people come to chase their dreams. However, the number of Californians over the age of 65 is on the rise. In fact, by 2026, the number of California’s seniors is expected to climb by 2.1 million. You may be one of...
When reviewing your estate plan, you will likely focus on making sure your will or trust’s provisions are current. Yet, you will also want to check the beneficiary designations on any payable on death (POD) bank accounts or life insurance policies you hold. And you...
Many people engage in legitimate strategies to keep their estates out of probate. Usually, avoiding probate is a good idea because it keeps your loved ones from having to undertake the often long, complicated process of estate administration. However, if you don’t...
If you’ve ever heard the term, probate, you might be wondering what it means. Probate is a term given to describe the legal process of transferring a person’s property upon death. As you can imagine, it’s not possible to avoid all steps of probate, but it can be...
When leaving one’s assets to loved ones, the last thing they want to worry about is a delay in beneficiaries being able to access them. However, if an estate gets tangled up in probate, that is what is likely to happen. It may be months, or even years, before someone...
Though there are some steps California residents can take during their lifetime to avoid probate, many neglect to do so. However, all is not lost-it might be possible for a surviving spouse or domestic partner to file a spousal property petition. Property that is not...
Many people may not realize how simple it is to avoid probate if they engage in timely estate planning. Taking a few steps to sit down with an experienced attorney and assess which estate planning tool can be useful given one’s situation can be one method to avoid the...
Under California law, probate is the process in which a deceased person’s estate is legally transferred to heirs or beneficiaries. If the person left a will, a probate court determines if the will meets all the formal requirements and is valid, and an executor is in...
Wouldn’t it be great if every process in life was quick and easy? While some things are, it’s also very true that some processes can be lengthy and can try a person’s patience. For those in the probate process, it can be a rude awakening when the process of...
It goes without saying that it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to build financial security over one’s lifetime. This includes making wise decisions financially to ensure a surplus in the end, rather than a deficit. When a loved one, like a parent, passes away,...