I got a new case recently where the person who died had a Suze Orman will and trust. Let’s just say, in legal terms, it’s all messed up! Before I go on let me make clear that Suze has a well deserved reputation as a financial guru. She has helped millions of people get their […]

I am often asked by prospective probate clients if they can serve as co-administrators or co-executors or co-personal representatives. For all practical purposes those three things are the same but the key is the word “CO.”  Co as in two or joint or together. That is usually two siblings want to work together so they […]

We lost my mom back in March of 2016 and I still get a lot of mail for her. My favorite is from AAA which says, on the envelope “WE WANT YOU BACK.” We get a chuckle, though a sad one, each time we receive that junk mail.  The mail continues.  Macy’s loves to send […]

I recently discussed a case with a potential new client. The facts are similar to other cases I have seen before and I thought it might be helpful for you, my loyal readers to hear of such a case. I have simplified a few of the facts and modified so this is similar but not […]

Today is September 27, 2018.  I had a hearing on a petition captioned as: PETITION FOR TERMINATION OF PROCEEDINGS AND DISCHARGE OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE This was filed under California probate code section 12251. This essentially was a probate that turned out to not be required. It was originally filed a couple years back as the […]

What a week in America with John McCain and Aretha Franklin’s funerals being must-see TV on seemingly every channel.  Yesterday I was presented with yet another article about Aretha Franklin’s lack of estate planning. Here’s a link. The question is what would her probate and estate look like had she died in California with no […]

Sacramento Magazine was kind enough to interview me in their August 2018 issue. The issue includes the area’s top lawyers, which I am listed, and interviews me for the article in the estate and probate area. Check it out here at Sacmag.com.

I can’t get no respect, no respect I say…. Oh wait, I have my celebrities and their lines on respect wrong but we have yet ANOTHER celeb dying without a proper estate plan in place. Here’s a good article on CNBC about Aretha’s lack of planning. With an $80m estimated net worth the costs of […]

Back in 2016 I wrote my first book on the California probate process.  It is called How to Live and Die with the California Probate: a Layperson’s Guide to the California Probate Process. I have put a link below if you want to buy it. If you want a FREE copy just send me an […]

People are often pleasantly surprised to learn that the answer to this question (Can I sell a house during a California probate) is an affirmative, YES!  That is correct, without hesitation, and that is without any doubt. Y – E – S ! You can sell a house during a probate in California. However, there […]