One essential detail of creating a will – or any estate planning document – is testamentary capacity. Put simply, this means that the person who creates the will must have a sound mind. This aspect can come into question if a loved one faces a dementia diagnosis. Your...
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Los Angeles Probate & Estate Administration Law Blog
Is probate complicated?
There is no doubt that the aftermath of losing a loved one is overwhelming. You and your family may struggle with complex emotions – but will you have to navigate a complex legal process as well? In many cases, probate may be necessary in California to validate a...
Which assets have to go through probate?
The thought of probate can leave you and your family facing a lot of questions after the loss of a loved one. These may include (1) how does probate work; what needs to be done to start the probate process; (3) how long will it take; and (4) what assets are part of...
Probate and taxes: What to know
Tax season is just around the corner. Many Californians are likely receiving their W-2s and other financial statements in the mail while preparing their strategies for April filing day. However, your tax filings may look different if you experienced significant life...
3 ways to build your sibling support system in probate
When your family experiences a loss, it can rattle everything you know. The entire structure you relied on for years can feel unsteady. During this time, it is often your siblings that you have to rely on. After all, you are all in the same boat. Even if you all had...
Are these signs of dementia? What to know.
As you age, it is only natural to become more forgetful. It is only when this forgetfulness becomes more frequent or even dangerous, that it becomes a concern for you and your family. You might worry that this increased forgetfulness could be a much larger issue –...
Why does a will need witnesses?
If you have a will, it means that you must have two witnesses present when you establish it. This is a requirement, but this requirement serves a much larger purpose in probate. Here is the critical information you must know about the role witnesses play. Why...
What do you do after losing a loved one?
When a family member passes away, it is difficult to know how to move forward. Yet, it seems there are countless things you must do, often all at once. Among all the uncertainty, there are three important things you may wish to remember. Do not avoid your emotions...
Is probate required?
As you may know, probate is the process of proving if a loved one’s will is valid before beginning the administration of their estate or if a probate, without a will is required. There is often a lot of anxiety surrounding this process. However, some people might...
3 things to know about taking inventory in probate
One of a personal representative’s biggest tasks is reviewing their loved one’s estate and taking stock of the assets. This can be daunting, so here are some of the critical things you must know about this particular task during probate. How long do you have? You have...