Los Angeles Probate & Estate Administration Law Blog
How do you divide your spouse’s property in intestate succession?
Losing a spouse is a heart-breaking, traumatic experience. When you depend on your life partner for years, it is a great shock to face the idea of a future without them. On top of that grief, you also have to deal with the confusing and often overwhelming probate...
How could dementia affect estate planning?
Dementia is a heartbreaking disease for individuals and their families to grapple with. It can make the future suddenly seem uncertain. The future might seem even more overwhelming if your parent does not have an estate plan set up. In the United States, roughly five...
Can Executors turn down the job?
It can be an honor if a loved one named you as the executor of their will, also referred to as a personal representative. It means they trust you to handle their most important affairs and carry out their wishes. However, acting as an executor is often a tough and...
What happens if a loved one leaves behind multiple wills?
In 2018, people across the country grieved the loss of the late, great Aretha Franklin. Franklin’s name returned to the headlines in 2019, however, when three handwritten wills were found in her home and filed in a Michigan probate court. The discovery of these three...
Selling a loved one’s house in probate: It is a complex process
For most people, their home is the most expensive asset in their name. Therefore, it is also one of the most expensive assets that you and your family must deal with during probate. If your loved ones do not leave explicit instructions or designate their house to a...
Chosen to be a guardian? Here’s what you should consider.
Parents who welcome children into the world usually have quite a bit on their hands. They need to adjust their life to accommodate their new child, which includes taking a look at their future. Many new parents would rather not think about what could happen if they...
What are your inheritance rights as a stepchild?
Nowadays, blended families are the norm. Divorce rates for people over 50 have slowly been increasing in the last two decades, and second marriages are much more common after divorce or the death of a spouse. However, even as more California families become blended...
What does it mean if an estate is insolvent?
An estate plan allows individuals to make their wishes clear and provide for their family when they are gone. However, a lot of financial planning goes into this process to ensure one's family members will be protected and provided for after their passing. This is...
What should an inventory of your loved one’s estate include?
Many articles explaining the probate process, and even this blog, often state just how important it is for personal representatives and surviving family members to create an inventory of their loved one’s property. It is not only necessary for the probate...
What should you do if a loved one is mentally incapacitated?
As loved ones age, families can run into many tough decisions about how to care for them. These decisions become even harder if loved ones start losing mental capacity. So, what can families do if they believe their loved one is mentally incapacitated? First, how can...
