Probate 102: Managing the California Probate Estate Here’s a look at some of the more nitty gritty details of managing a Probate Estate in California IS THE VALUE OF A HOME DETERMINED BY THE HOME’S VALUE OR THE HOME’S EQUITY? The value is determined by...Read More
Probate 101: When an Estate needs to go through Probate Court in California & How it Works WHAT IS PROBATE? Probate is the process through which the state of California oversees the administration of a person’s estate after his or her death. The California probate...Read More
Michael Jackson’s lifetime and career lasted just 50 short years – but the legacy of his work & music will go on living far longer. The story of Michael’s afterlife will no doubt be vast and likely even more wide reaching than during his actual...Read More
Listen to the Podcast Here Matthew Talbot was featured last year on popular law podcast “Above the Law” – Thanks so much to the Host for having us! Here’s a brief summary from the creators: “Families don’t call Matt Talbot when things are going well....Read More
When someone creates a trust, their goal is clear: to ensure that their assets are protected, efficiently administered, and distributed according to their wishes. But what happens when an asset—most commonly real estate—is mistakenly left out of the trust? Fortunately, California law offers a solution:...Read More
When a loved one passes away, surviving spouses often face complex legal hurdles in securing assets—especially when estate planning documents are incomplete or improperly implemented. Fortunately, two powerful legal tools under California law—Heggstad Petitions and Spousal Property Petitions—can be used in tandem to ensure that...Read More
In California probate court, the Probate Code is just the beginning. Each year, appellate decisions refine — and sometimes rewrite — how the law is interpreted and enforced. From trust amendments to no-contest clauses and healthcare powers, every year delivers several game-changing rulings that every...Read More
In case you missed it in the holiday bustle, Media Mogul and Fox News Owner Rupert Murdoch was back in Probate Court in December. The control of companies – which are effectively owned by irrevocable trusts – were at stake – and Rupert lost big. ...Read More
On September 21st, Governor Newsom signed AB 2016 which drastically changes Section 13100 (and accompanying sections) of the California Probate Code. Specifically, California changed its law to allow a decedent’s primary residence to be distributed without going through the longer, more arduous probate process –...Read More
In December of last year, Stephen “tWitch” Boss, the charismatic DJ and dancer who rose to fame on “So You Think You Can Dance,” and the Ellen Degeneres Show tragically passed away. In addition to his role as an actor, host, and television producer, 40...Read More
The answer is Yes, absolutely. Our firm represents Administrators and Executors who live outside of California all the time. Our Estate Administrators (also called Executors) live all over the country in fact – Pennsylvania, Florida, Oregon, New Jersey, New York, Indiana, and so forth. Many...Read More
What happens when one beneficiary wants to buyout another beneficiary’s interest in an inherited property? You might think this is a simple and straightforward process – one beneficiary compensates the other(s) for their share of the property and voila – takes the property. But here’s...Read More
The responsibility of being named trustee can feel overwhelming for many, especially if they are grieving the loss of a family member at the same time. Many of our clients feel that it’s helpful to have a list of what they can get started on....Read More
When a loved one passes away, it can be devastating and often overwhelming. If the person lived in California and had no estate planning documents, family members often feel lost as to how to proceed when it comes to handling the loved one’s assets. There...Read More
If you have a relative who has passed away without a trust in California, you will likely need to go through Probate in order to gain access to his or her assets. Before you attempt to file a Petition for Probate, you’ll want to know...Read More
When I was a senior in high school in 1998 and “Baby One More Time” came out, I could have never imagined the effect that Britney Spears would have on my future professional life! Now that her story is burning up social media, conservatorships...Read More
author: marcen27 from Glasgow, UK In an unprecedented turn of events, Britney Spears took the stand yesterday in LA Probate Court to tell the Judge exactly how she felt about being conserved. Thirteen years into her Conservatorship, Britney elaborated on what she believes has been...Read More
Michael Jackson’s Estate claimed Jackson’s name and image were valueless upon his death. The IRS strongly disagreed. Can you imagine a world in which pop icon Michael Jackson’s name and image truly have no value?? That is the question at the heart of a recent...Read More
On January 23, 2021, Lawrence Zieger died. Known globally as Larry King, he left behind 8 marriages to 7 different women (he married his 3rd wife twice). His kids ranged in age from 65-20. Sadly, two of them pre-deceased him. From an estate perspective, this...Read More
