WAEstate

When a loved one passes away, one of the first practical steps that should be taken is to search for the decedent’s Last Will and Testament. What happens though if you cannot find a Will? Surveys indicate that over half of all Americans do not have even a basic estate plan in place, making it equally likely that your loved one did not execute a Will prior to his/her death.  If that is the case, it means that he/she died “intestate” which is a legal term meaning without a Will. When a decedent … [Read more...]

Creating a successful estate plan typically requires you to incorporate numerous inter-connected goals and objectives into one comprehensive plan. As you may have heard from friends or family, probate avoidance is a popular estate planning goal. In order to decide if you should make probate avoidance one of your goals, however, you need to have a firm understanding of why you might want your estate to avoid probate. Probate Process Basics Probate is the legal process that is typically required … [Read more...]

The death of a family member or someone else close to you is usually followed by a period of grief, confusion, and a variety of other heightened emotions. Someone, however, must handle the legal and practical implications of your loved one’s death. If you have been designated as that person, you probably do not know where to begin or exactly what needs to be done unless you have been in the same position in the past. That lack of experience, coupled with your heightened emotional state, can lead … [Read more...]

When a celebrity dies, it is far from uncommon for a contentious legal battle to ensue over the fortune left behind. Sadly, the behavior of the litigants is not surprising. What is surprising, however, is how often the rich and famous fail to leave behind a well drafted and thorough estate plan – a plan that would dramatically decrease the likelihood of litigation. The death of actor Alan Thicke, and the battle over his estate that continues long after his death, is yet another example of this … [Read more...]

When a loved one dies, the money and property included in their estate needs to be distributed to their heirs.  In many cases, the estate must go through the probate process in order for the assets to be properly distributed. The basic probate process requires completion of several steps in order to close probate and make those distributions.  Here, our probate attorneys will explain the most basic steps of the probate process in the great state of California. Appointing a personal … [Read more...]

Creating a successful estate plan requires you to think about much more than just how you want your estate assets to be distributed when you are gone. Precisely which additional estate planning goal and objectives you decide to incorporate into your comprehensive estate plan will depend on numerous factors; however, one common estate planning goal is probate avoidance. Why is it so desirable to avoid probate though? To help answer that question, we explain the probate process and why many people … [Read more...]

Certainly everyone is familiar with the estate planning terms "will" and "trust," but not everyone understands the differences between the two estate planning tools. Wills and living trusts are both useful estate planning instruments that serve very different purposes. Despite their dissimilarities, both can work together to create a comprehensive estate plan. Just ask our Sacramento probate attorney how it works. Wills and living trusts are needed for estate planning Regardless of how old you … [Read more...]

As all probate attorneys recognize, the California Probate Code is an expansive set of statutes that sets for the numerous procedures that may arise in a California probate case. The probate code is huge with significant details pertaining to even the most obscure situations. Experienced and qualified probate attorneys are familiar with these myriad procedures. But first, the basics on probate proceedings in California must be understood. Why Someone Involved in a Probate Proceeding Needs to … [Read more...]

When a loved one dies, the money and property included in their estate need to be distributed to their heirs.  In many cases, the estate must go through the probate process in order for the assets to be properly distributed. The basic probate process requires completion of several steps in order to close probate and make those distributions, which can take a significant amount of time, depending on how probate is handled. However, with the help of one of our Sacramento probate lawyers, there may … [Read more...]

It is generally understood that California’s Medicaid program,  known as Medi-Cal, has the ability to seek reimbursement of the medical costs paid out during an individual’s lifetime from that person’s probate estate after their death. In fact, this is a big concern for most people considering whether to apply for Medi-Cal to cover their nursing home expenses.  However, we are aware of the new bill recently passed in California that limits Medi-Cal’s recovery against your probate … [Read more...]