Recently, sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was found dead, allegedly by suicide.  A number of people have raised questions what this means for his estate and the victims.  At this time, there are more questions than answers.  This is due to the extreme complexity of Epstein’s estate.  It would be spread out over at least three...Read More

“Mad, bad and dangerous to know. That was him and that was me.”  Speaking about himself and Lord Byron, Dylan McKay was the coolest guy at West Beverly High School and teen idol for an entire generation of teenagers in the 90’s.  Played by actor Luke Perry in the long-running show Beverly Hills, 90210, his...Read More

When Green Book was released and subsequently won the Oscar for Best Picture, Don Shirley’s story finally became widely known to the public.  But who really knew Don Shirley? Was it his family, who claimed the movie was a “symphony of lies”, or was it the sole heir and executor of his estate, a Dutch...Read More

Unlike famous singers Aretha Franklin and Prince, who died without a will or trust, rapper Mac Miller planned ahead for his demise. And he did this at the tender age of 21 – perhaps foreseeing his death at just 26 years of age on September 7th of this year. Consequently, his fortune will likely be...Read More

David Cassidy, known as Keith Partridge in the popular show The Partridge Family and a teen heartthrob in the 1970s, died of organ failure in Fort Lauderdale on November 21, 2017 at the age of 67. He had been hospitalized with liver and kidney failure the week prior to his death and passed away surrounded...Read More

Famed Playboy (Owner) and Celebrity Hugh Hefner passed away on September 27th at the age of 91.  With an estimated net worth of $50 million at the time of his death, a young wife, multiple ex-wives and ex-girlfriends, and four children to boot, who will end up with Hugh Hefner’s fortune? His last will and testament,...Read More

When a person dies who does not have a will the probate court must manage his or her estate. Without making a will the person is said to have died “intestate”.  Simply put, the court, according to the laws of each particular state, decides who shall receive outright your personal belongings and money. But there...Read More

The trust battle between the Buss siblings over control of the L.A. Lakers has ended. Jeannie Buss and her brothers, Jim and Johnny, reached with an agreement for Jeannie to remain as controlling owner for as long as the family owns the famed basketball team. On February 21  Jeannie Buss, the L.A. Lakers president and...Read More

Updated 2/25/2021 When a parent dies who has had the forethought to establish a trust, the probate process can be avoided, which can be time-consuming and costly.   Now, let’s assume that the parent/trustee  has real property in California and has named a successor trustee whose job it is to ensure that the property is...Read More

The timeline for completing the trust administration process varies widely depending upon the circumstances of the case. Administering a trust of a married couple when one spouse passes away, for example, can be completed in a few short months. Settlement of a large trust with multiple beneficiaries can be more complex and thus take longer...Read More

While we always consider what will happen to our children when we are no longer there to care for them, our pets are potentially left just as vulnerable when we die.  Currently, under California law your dog or cat is viewed no differently than your car or your sofa.  Pets have no rights and no...Read More

Image by Peacock TV Jay Pritchett’s family on ABC’s popular sitcom “Modern Family” is a reflection of many families in the U.S. today. Jay (Ed O’Neill) and Gloria (Sophia Vergara) are parents of a blended family – in other words, they are in a second (or third) marriage and have children from multiple marriages. How...Read More

Executing a trust provides you with an orderly disposition of your estate and avoids probate. However, simply setting up a trust will not avoid probate until the trust obtains legal title to your property.  This is called “funding” the trust. Once you have executed your trust, it is critical to ensure that all appropriate assets are...Read More

As an attorney who works in the Trust and Estate field, I frequently run across the question of why someone should pay an attorney to do their Estate Plan. After all, a professionally done will, trust, or other estate planning document can cost between several hundred to thousands of dollars. Is it really worth it?...Read More

Mental Competence and Money are at the heart of countless lawsuits in the US today. While Sumner Redstone’s case involves considerably more money and media exposure than most, it bears strong resemblance to many of my past and present cases in the SF East Bay. In many instances, legal action can help to protect elderly...Read More

Over the next 30-40 years, it is estimated that baby boomers will transfer an unprecedented 30 trillion dollars to the next generation, resulting in the greatest wealth transfer of our time. In contrast, studies estimate the previous inter generational wealth transfer (still in process) at just $11 trillion.  Due to the proliferation of second and third marriages, the...Read More

March was proclaimed “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month” by President Ronald Reagan in 1987. President Reagan asked Americans to work toward providing both “encouragement” and “opportunities” to allow those with developmental disabilities to achieve their potential. In doing so, Reagan has given us all a chance to recognize the vast array of abilities and talents of...Read More