There are several estate planning strategies that you could use to avoid or shorten probate in California. The benefits of a shorter probate are money savings, passing on assets faster and happier beneficiaries. Transfer-on-death assets You can set up various...
Probate is a process all California estates go through even if the decedent lacked a will. However, some assets are transferred outside of probate. Retirement accounts are among them. Understanding probate The probate process allows a person’s will to be validated so...
Probate is the legal process of transferring ownership of property from a deceased person to their heirs. It can be a lengthy and expensive process, so many people try to avoid it if possible. The question is, how can you avoid probate? Create a trust Usually, when...
Coping with a loved one's loss in California can be very difficult. But, you can have a hard time moving on if you believe that their true wishes weren't carried out the way they would've wanted. And so, if you think that something is wrong with their will or perhaps...
Dealing with the loss of a loved one in California is never an easy time. Sometimes, this situation can become even more overwhelming for a disinherited child. Understandably, receiving the label of a disinherited child can make you feel helpless. However, it's...
For people dealing with an estate and the probate process in California, one of the trickiest elements can be ancillary probate. This is a special process that applies when the contents of an estate are spread across multiple states, such as having two houses in two...
Probate court handles all issues that involve administering an estate after its owner's death. In the end, the decedent's property and belongings are handed over to heirs and beneficiaries. There are certain facts about probate in California that are important for...
Estate planning fraud does not mean just creating a fake will after the fact and claiming it is the real thing. Instead, the person planning to commit fraud may do so by tricking that person and getting them to sign the document, thereby making it appear more official...
When people think about a will that is not valid, they often think about a fake will. Maybe, after a parent's passing, an heir drafted a will that gave them a far greater share of the estate than they got in the original. There is a clear chance for financial...
Many people put off writing a will. Say you do so for a few decades, thinking you still have time to get your estate plan together. Then, just before you actually get that plan down on paper, you pass away unexpectedly from a heart attack or in a car accident.Life is...