I selected the topic of Ancillary probate and property taxes in California because it’s a common discussion in my office and much more so since the passage of Prop 19 in California.  Prop 19 ripped the heart out of the parent to child transfer laws in California.  The old rules made it relatively easy for […]

Many people are unsure and unaware how attorney fees and court costs work in a California probate case.  With amazing house appreciation the last 10 years I wanted to talk a little bit about how house appreciation and probate costs work. This came to mind as I am working on a new matter where the […]

Twenty-four things dying people wished they had done differently are listed below.  What about you?  Are you living your best life?  Are you saving money to benefit your kids in the future?  Will your kids have to go through probate?  Focus on what really matters! . I wish I had the courage to just be […]

People are often confused on this one. How do you lodge a will in a California probate?  Many people, over the years, have asked if you file the will with the county clerk or with the county recorder. The correct answer is you lodge a will with the California Superior Court in the county of […]

As of April 1, 2022 (and no this is not an April Fools joke) the small estate limits have been changed in California. They have been increased FOR DEATHS OCCURING ON OR AFTER APRIL 1, 2022. The limits for death prior to April 1, 2022 remain the same. The new limit for small estate affidavits […]

I decided to post this question as it’s been too long since I posted something new on here. I had been waiting to post Fixing or amending a California probate court order part 2 but that case is on the slow track due to the courts being so impacted because of Covid (or whatever their […]

I recently got to diagnose a new case that I thought would really speak to some of my readers. A potential client (we’ll call him Mr. P) called me about a case where his wife had died and he believed he was inheriting a property as her will left him everything she had. Certainly everything […]

A lot of attorneys call themselves a “probate attorney.”  My question to you is: do you want a “probate attorney” or a “probate court attorney?”  My suggestion is you make sure you get a California Probate COURT attorney. I’ll tell you the difference and why it matters. At the time of writing this post I […]

Make sure you are on official IRS webpage when applying for EIN or TIN! I was trading emails with a probate client today and he said he was going to apply for a tin (tax identification number) and showed me the link. I reminded him that we are happy to take care of it for […]

I saw this article and knew my readers would be interested. We have had several Covid-19 or Coronavirus deaths in our office in the past year. As a lawyer who is 100% focused on probate court cases, or death cases, I have seen more than my fair share. This could be a resource for those […]