When Michael Jackson died I posted the following: “Michael Jackson has been dead less than 24 hours and there are dozens of articles on the internet about this already.  He is in debt $400 million or $500 million or who knows how much….  However, he has assets… worth $500 million or $1 billion… or really […]

Currently you can pass up to $100,000 after death without going through probate. California Probate Code 13100 provides the backbone of that. It’s pasted below. I have heard the California legislature is changing that to $150,000 effective January 1, 2012. Let’s see…. California Probate Code Section 13100 Excluding the property described in Section 13050, if […]

Everybody knows about legalzoom.com and other legal document drafting companies.  They create wills, powers of attorney, living wills and even trusts.  They may actually work out fine for you and your loved ones… we will find out after you die. Another similar option is the California statutory will. It’s something not a lot of people know […]

Another option if the California statutory will is too complicated is simply doing a holographic, or handwritten, will. The relevant California probate code section is pasted below. A handwritten will is completely valid. It just needs to be in your own handwriting, signed and dated. No witnesses required. Obviously, this is only for very simple […]

My last couple of posts have been about some simple options you can use if don’t have time to hire a California estate planning attorney to properly write your will. They are fine options but, as stated, you won’t know until after death if they worked out ok. Definitely having a specialist do your will […]

The California probate Court system provides for a fairly uniform application of the laws of California from county to county. The probate Court is part of the Superior Court and in some counties is heard together with other matters. In the larger counties the probate Court typically has it’s own calendar, own Court room and […]

In the past week I have blogged generally about the need to transfer your assets into your trust and specifically the need to transfer often forgotten assets like timeshares to your trust. The question is HOW?  How does one “transfer” an asset into their California trust?  Today we are going to focus on real estate […]

Breaking news from ABC News: The California Attorney General’s Office of Charitable Trust is investigating the Farrah Fawcett Foundation for potential mismanagement of funds, diversion of assets, and fraud, ABC News has learned exclusively through numerous sources including Fawcett’s longtime friend and former college boyfriend Greg Lott. The foundation became active after Fawcett’s death in […]

I have made a list of 7 questions that I feel are important for you to know about BEFORE you hire an estate planning attorney to do your will, trust, powers of attorney and whatever else you need.  I am going to talk about one question here today and if you want the rest of the […]

So many people set up trusts but then fail to get their assets properly “IN” to the trust. Sure you got some nice some forms from a website or a paralegal sold you some documents cheap. Or maybe even a lawyer provided a faux leather binder full of important looking documents. However, estate planning is […]