Your elderly family member uses their savings to provide for their needs, which is why you may be worried that someone will take advantage of their situation and steal from them. Unfortunately, financial abuse is common, and anyone can take your loved one’s money if...
A testator might not choose an executor wisely. Selecting a close relative does not automatically lead to picking the right person for the job. The named executor might prove slow, incompetent, or irresponsible. In some unfortunate instances, the executor acts...
The accolades continue for Michelle C. Bartolic. Nearly two months ago, she was recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in Estate & Trust Litigation, an area of law that has been her focus since she started her legal practice. In that blog, the Gostanian Law...
Estate planning is one of the steps many people avoid when securing a financial future for their loved ones. It's understandable that most people don't want to think about their own demise, but it's important to develop a detailed plan to avoid estate planning...
Anyone who is planning to write a will, save money or invest resources needs to learn about fiduciary duty. Estate planning in California typically includes choosing a trusted individual or company to represent you or someone you love, and this individual becomes a...
Trusts are very useful in estate planning. Many families in California use them as a way to ensure that assets are passed on quickly and smoothly after a death. However, trustees need to be aware that their role can leave them open to lawsuits. That's true even if...
Whether you're creating a new estate plan or updating a current one in California, there are several important things to examine. If you do not, it could lead to a wide range of issues in the future. Here's what to focus on as you check out your estate plan. Keep an...
Residents of Newport Beach and other areas of California may want to learn more about the "no contest" clause that can be attached to a person's last will and testament. Its purpose is to provide for the disinheritance of an heir if they dispute the contents of the...
Probate could become a more stressful process for heirs and beneficiaries than people realize. The same might be the case even with trusts that avoid the California probate process. Things may prove even more complicated when someone contests a will or trust. Being...
While Californian adults of almost any age can potentially be targeted for financial abuse, most often, the victims are senior citizens. Elderly people, whether here in Newport Beach or elsewhere in the country, can be particularly vulnerable to this form of abuse....