Probate

In an estate planning context, undue influence occurs when someone pressures or manipulates an individual to change their estate plan. As a result, the plan may no longer reflect the person’s true wishes. While the changes or updates may appear valid—they are...

Sentimental property, including family heirlooms, keepsakes and personal items with emotional significance, often becomes a source of in-fighting (and even formal probate disputes) after a loved one’s passing. While these items may not hold substantial financial...

Children inherit their parents' assets in most cases. Parents certainly can pick other beneficiaries if they would like, or they can disinherit certain children. But as a general rule, these adult children are going to expect that they will inherit tangible assets,...

An estate planning goal for many is to find tools that help to reduce the need for probate, which is the settling of a deceased person’s estate. For example, you may bypass probate, or a portion of it, by creating and funding a living trust. However, all states have...

We all want to leave some inheritance to the people we care about when we die. This, in part, explains why you work hard after all. And as you create your wealth, one of the most important decisions you need to make is creating an estate plan. Probate is the legal...

When a person writes a will, that is the beginning of their estate plan. The estate executor is the person who is actually going to make sure that this will is followed. This individual has a lot of different duties and responsibilities after their loved one passes...

Many times, the estate or trust of a former San Diego resident can get embroiled in probate or trust litigation because of disgruntled relatives. Litigation is possible, for example, when some family members feel like they were treated unfairly in the distribution....

When a person passes away, his or her personal representative is responsible for settling their estate. One of the most important first steps for the personal representative to take is to find all of the deceased person’s estate planning documents and supporting...

When a person dies in California, a fundamental part of the probate process will be having a personal representative to adhere to the decedent’s wishes. The personal representative is also referred to as an executor, among other terms. This is a role with significant...