On paper, becoming an executor or administrator of someone’s estate means you’ve been entrusted to take on an enormous responsibility. Some may consider it an honor… but before you accept this relatively unenviable task, it’s best to understand the key factors of what the job itself entails. Key Factor #1 - Understanding the Difference Between Executor and Administrator The executor…[...]

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Tags: administrator, executor, Fiduciary, Probate, Probate Fiduciary, Trusts, Wills
Posted in Estate Planning - Wills, Trusts, and Probate, Executor, Probate Code | 1 Comment »

Grieving a loved one is painful. Unfortunately, the state doesn’t care—they still expect you to complete the daunting probate process within a year of your loved one’s death. But where to start? 1. File the Probate Petition The first step is to file a request to begin probate with the court. Fill out form DE-111, which includes nine main sections…[...]

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Tags: beneficiaries, beneficiary, distribution of assets, executor, handling taxes, heirs, managing of assets, paying debts, Probate, probate petition
Posted in California Law, Estate Planning - Wills, Trusts, and Probate, Litigation, Probate Code | No Comments »

“When faced with the question of whether you should stay in a marriage, difficult emotions are bound to arise…. Despite the emotions involved, a life-changing decision needs to be made when considering the financial, emotional, and legal implications specific to your situation. The first question you should ask is: ‘Should I file for divorce or repair my marriage?’.” Thus begins…[...]

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Tags: book, Divorce, free chapter, getting divorced now what, guide, guidebook, real-life stories, your are not alone
Posted in Books, Divorce, Family Law, Featured, Marriage | No Comments »

Probate is oftentimes a long, costly process, especially when bequeathing a house. The best way to avoid your home being placed in probate is to setup a living trust. However, some believe the best way to transfer a home to their child without probate is to add them to the title of their home. The problem is the drawbacks far…[...]

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Tags: gift, home taxes, home title, legal rights, litigation, parent/child exclusion, Probate, tax, tax burden, title, transfer, trust, trust of survivorship
Posted in Estate Planning - Wills, Trusts, and Probate, Probate Code | No Comments »

Rachel King, lead litigation attorney at King Law Firm Attorneys at Law, Inc., has a new book being released soon. We talked to Rachel about the book, Getting Divorced... Now What? and the challenges one might face when representing themselves during divorce. 1. What is Getting Divorced… Now What? It is everything I have learned over a decade of practicing…[...]

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Tags: answers, attorney, book, Divorce, Getting Divorced, lawyer, misconceptions, mistakes, Now What, q&a, qanda, questions, rachel king, real-life stories, representing yourself, stories, workbook
Posted in Divorce, Featured | 1 Comment »

Complexities aside, representing yourself in a divorce should always be a last resort. We understand not everyone can afford a high-priced attorney, but the inability to separate one’s emotions keeps a lot of people from logical, rational discourse, which inevitably leads to an outcome that’s skewed in the spouse’s favor. However, if you must act pro se (‘pro•say’; meaning to…[...]

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Tags: attorneys, Custody, Divorce, ex parte, legal advice, legal forms, Marriage, pro se, property, representing yourself, self representation, social media, unsolicited
Posted in Divorce, Family Law, Marriage | 1 Comment »

Knives Out chronicles the mystery behind the death of affluent patriarch (Christopher Plummer). Hidden within Detective Benoit Blanc’s (Daniel Craig) investigation is a family in turmoil – not because of the death itself, but because of how he divided his grand estate in his last will and testament. When it’s discovered that the patriarch has left the entirety of his…[...]

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Tags: beneficiary, contestation, court, heirs, knives out, movie, Probate, will
Posted in Estate Planning - Wills, Trusts, and Probate, Litigation, Wills | No Comments »

When it comes to most restraining orders, laws vary in the way individuals are protected from harassment, stalking, sexual abuse, and other intimidating behaviors. However, there is one threat of potential harm that most states have overlooked—isolation. Reverse Isolation Leads to Abuse Affecting mostly elderly and dependent adults, isolation became prevalent in response to the COVID pandemic. To keep vulnerable…[...]

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Tags: anti-isolation restraining order, assembly bill 1243, dependent adults, elder abuse, restraining order, reverse isolation, seniors
Posted in California Law, COVID-19, Reverse Isolation | No Comments »

  Screenshot Rumors have been swirling around Hollywood that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s marriage is all but over. It started May 17 when Lopez attended the Met Gala alone one day after the two were spotted together at Affleck’s son’s school play. His absence could very well have been due to scheduling obligations on his new film, but that…[...]

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Tags: Ben Affleck, Bennifer, Divorce, divorcing, Jennifer Lopez, love, Marriage, rumors
Posted in Divorce, Marriage, Pop Culture | 1 Comment »

In most states, the terms “Guardianship” and “Conservatorship” are one and the same; interchangeable. California, however, has a very clear distinction between the two. A guardian is someone who takes care of a child under the age of 18 when the child’s parents are deceased or incapable of properly caring for the child. A conservator, on the other hand, is…[...]

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Tags: adults, Children, conservator, conservatorship, conservatorships, developmentally disabled, disabled, general, Guardian, Guardianship, limited
Posted in Conservatorship, Custody, Guardianship | 1 Comment »