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• Blog
  • 2019
    • January
      • How is a Will Read?
      • There’s No Will; What Can the Executor Do?
    • February
      • A Plan for Your Digital Legacy
      • Practical California Estate Planning: Organize Your Documents
  • 2016
    • February
      • How to Get Started with Estate Planning: 5 Essential Questions to Answer
    • March
      • Are Holographic Wills Legal in California?
    • April
      • Do I Qualify to Be the Personal Representative for a Loved One’s Estate?
      • How to Start Discussing Death & Estate Planning with Loved Ones: 3 Helpful Tips
    • May
      • How Much Does Probate in California Cost?
      • How to Choose the Right Trusts When Developing an Estate Plan
    • June
      • 3 Major Mistakes to Avoid with Trusts: How to Prevent a Trust from Going ‘Bad’
      • Estate Planning for Business Owners
    • July
      • An Essential Checklist for Drafting a Will
    • August
      • How to Include Digital Assets in Your Estate Plan
  • 2015
    • February
      • Breach of Fiduciary Duty: 7 Facts to Know (Pt. 3)
      • Breach of Fiduciary Duty: 7 Facts to Know (Pt. 2)
      • Breach of Fiduciary Duty: 7 Facts to Know (Pt. 1)
    • March
      • California Conservatorships: 6 Important Things You Should Know (Pt. 2)
      • California Conservatorships: 6 Important Things You Should Know (Pt. 1)
      • California Conservatorships: 6 Important Things You Should Know (Pt. 3)
    • April
      • The California Probate Process: An Overview (Pt. 3)
      • The California Probate Process: An Overview (Pt. 2)
      • The California Probate Process: An Overview (Pt. 1)
      • Probate Glossary: Common Probate Terms Defined
    • May
      • Basic Requirements for California Wills: An Overview
      • What to Do After a Loved One Dies
      • Who to Contact After a Loved One Dies
    • June
      • 3 Reasons to Develop a Living Trust
      • CA Intestacy Laws: What Happens If You Die Without a Will
      • When Should I Update My Will?
    • July
      • Minor’s Compromise in Estate Administration: FAQs
    • August
      • Overview of Probate Court Costs in California
      • How to Prove a Will Is Valid in California
      • Should I Be an Executor or Personal Representative?
    • September
      • 4 Essential Tips for Executors of Wills
      • 3 Myths About California Probate Debunked
    • October
      • 4 Places to Look for a Will After a Loved One Passes Away
      • Your Essential Estate Planning & Probate Glossary
      • Estate Planning 101: 4 Important Estate Planning Basics
    • November
      • 5 Steps to Take Before Developing a Living Trust
      • How to Choose an Estate Lawyer: 5 Questions to Ask During an Initial Consult
    • December
      • 4 Important Facts to Know About Probate Notifications
      • 5 Myths About Estate Planning Dispelled
  • 2014
    • January
      • Los Angeles Parents: Consider Teaching Heirs Important Lessons
      • Daughters More Likely to Make Medical Decisions for Parents
      • Should Estate Planning Be a Pet Project?
      • New Year: Looking Ahead and Planning Ahead
      • Multiple Parties Challenge Validity of Woman’s Will
    • February
      • The Upside of Updating Your Estate Plan in Los Angeles
      • Do You Have an Advance Care Directive? Study Says Probably Not
      • The Challenges of Deciding What to Do with an Inheritance
      • Paul Walker’s Will Filed in Probate Court, Disputes Possible
    • March
      • Without a Will, the Way to Protect Your Wishes May Not Be Clear
      • Californian Purchases Most Valuable Life Insurance Policy Ever
      • Elderly Dementia Patients Targeted by Caretakers for Inheritances
    • April
      • Huguette Clark Estate Settled Without Criminal Charges
      • How to Approach Estate Planning: Start with the Basics
      • Mickey Rooney Leaves Estate to Stepson, Disinherits 8 Children
      • Just a Note: Make Sure an Estate Plan Is Legally Effective
      • Another Dramatic Turn for Whitney Houston’s Estate
    • May
      • Disney Trustees’ Decisions Called into Question
      • Estate Planning Aims That Married Couples Typically Pursue
      • Rooney’s Disinherited Children Contest His Will
      • What Parents Should Consider Before Leaving an Inheritance
    • June
      • Heirs May Get Some Unwelcome Surprises in Inheritances
      • How Advance Health Care Directives Can Benefit Everyone
      • Trustees Fighting for ‘Reasonable Compensation’
      • Young Entrepreneurs Setting Trends in Estate Planning
    • July
      • Details of Lou Reed’s Will Released to the Public
      • No Trust Set Up for Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Children
      • Trial Over Sale of NBA Team Sent Back to Probate Court
      • Are Children More Likely to Fight Over Inheritances These Days?
      • Real Estate and Estate Planning: What to Consider
    • August
      • What You Should Know About Probate in California
      • Who Inherits What When a Person Passes Away?
      • Robin Williams Took Estate Planning Seriously
      • Husband, Son Fight Over Woman’s Estate in Probate Court
    • September
      • What Is the Difference Between Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts?
      • Overwhelmed by Estate Planning? You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
      • Widow Can’t Access Inheritance or Late Husband’s Apartment
      • What Are the Responsibilities for an Executor of an Estate?
      • Estate Planning for Your Kids (and Their Kids)
    • October
      • Details of Casey Kasem’s Death: An Estate Planning Cautionary Tale
      • Things to Consider Before Naming a Personal Representative
      • What Happens If Someone Dies Without a Will?
    • December
      • California Trustee Duties: Here’s What You Should Know (Pt. 2)
      • California Trustee Duties: Here’s What You Should Know (Pt. 1)
      • California Trustee Duties: Here’s What You Should Know (Pt. 3)
  • 2013
    • January
      • 6 Years After Death, Anna Nicole Smith’s California Home Sold
      • Estate Plans Must Take Digital Assets into Account
      • Put Your Trust in the Hands of a Professional Estate Planner
      • Mother of Honey Boo Boo Smartly Sets up a Trust for Her
    • February
      • Judges: We Feel Good About Vetoing James Brown Estate Deal
      • Doctors Can Assist in Communication with Health Care Proxy
      • Trust Ensures That Jerry Buss’ Family Will Hold onto Lakers
      • Man Leaves $1 Million Estate to Actors He’d Never Met
    • March
      • Man Convicted in Parents’ Death Can’t Inherit Their Assets
      • Famed Hairdresser Sassoon Cut Adopted Son Out of His Will
      • Health-Care Issues Are on the Table for Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning Means More Than Just Settling up Your Finances
      • Onetime Movie Star Making Bid to Reclaim Control of His Estate
    • April
      • Even with $40 Million Estate, Man Never Completed a Will
      • Tips for Los Angeles Parents Leaving Inheritances to Children
      • Supreme Court Hears Case on Whether Widow or Ex-Wife Gets Inheritance
      • Be Sure Your Family Actually Wants What You’re Leaving Them
    • May
      • Make Sure to Address Potential Estate-Planning Pitfalls
      • When’s a Good Time for Estate Planning? The Sooner, the Better
    • June
      • Same-Sex Marriage Ruling Could Have an Effect on Estate Plans
      • Protecting Estates of Any Size Is Important
      • Trend: Inheritances Being Distributed to Heirs at Older Ages
      • Tips for Making the Probate Process Easier in California
      • Estate Planning for the Super Wealthy: Give It All Away
    • July
      • What Is a Living Will and What Does It Protect?
      • Disinheriting a Child Can Result in Challenges in Probate Court
      • Planning an Estate? Don’t Forget About Your Digital Life
      • Late Actor James Gandolfini Leaves Much of His Wealth to Children
    • August
      • Things to Consider Before Naming an Executor of an Estate
      • Who Gets the Benefits: Lesbian Spouse or Parents of Decedent?
      • Gandolfini’s Untimely Death Illustrates Need for Estate Planning
      • An Inheritance Doesn’t Always Have to Be Distributed Upon Death
    • September
      • Copper Heiress’ Will Challenged in Court
      • College Students Consider a New Class: Estate Planning 101
      • Bypass Trusts Can Create Tax Challenges for Children, Spouses
      • The Challenges of Receiving an Inheritance
    • October
      • The Long-Term Impact of Long-Term Care Arrangements
      • Should You Talk to Your Kids About an Inheritance?
      • Avoid These 3 Common Estate Planning Mistakes Made by Celebrities
      • Dispute Over Copper Heiress’ Estate Finally Gets Resolved
    • November
      • Children Can Be Thankful for Effective Estate Plans
      • Parents: Consider Benefits of Advance Health Care Directives
      • What Type of Trust Might Be Right for You?
      • Should Estate Planning Be a Family Affair in Los Angeles?
      • Money Isn’t Always at the Center of Los Angeles Estate Disputes
    • December
      • Jury: Warhol Portrait of Farrah Fawcett to Stay with Ryan O’Neal
      • What Can You Do to Make Trust Administration Easier?
      • Report: More Than 50 Percent of Retirees Plan to Leave Inheritance
      • Complex Estates and the Lengthy Probate Process
  • 2012
    • April
      • Google Making It Easier for People to Tend to Digital ‘Estates’
    • August
      • How Will You Pass Down Digital Assets in Your Estate Plan?
    • September
      • Tell Your Beneficiaries About Your Plans to Avoid Trouble Later
      • Distant Cousin Inherits $7M in Gold Found in Deceased Man’s Home
      • California Citrus Farmer Bequests $2.8 Million to Library
      • Generation Z Overconfident About Inheritances
      • California Company Can Sell Marilyn Monroe Images, Court Rules
    • October
      • Los Angeles Court Hears Asset Dispute Over Andy Warhol Painting
      • Can Whitney Houston’s Daughter Be Trusted with Her Inheritance?
    • November
      • Children May Inherit Your Money, but What About Your Values?
      • Tolkien Estate Lawsuit: Gambling with Frodo a No-no
      • Making Plans for the Big One? Don’t Forget Your Pets
      • Should You Consider a Trust as Part of Your Estate Planning?
    • December
      • What Should You Consider When Selecting a Trust Administrator?
      • Power of Attorney: How Is Competency Determined in California?
      • What Happens to Property When a Family Member Dies?
      • Homeless Heir to Fortune Dies Before Receiving Inheritance