In a full, or normal, California probate case the attorney fees are set by statute. It’s set in stone what one will pay and, absent extraordinary circumstances, the fee can not be more than that.  Also, the attorney fee should not be paid before the Court order.  Money for costs most certainly can be requested […]

Estate planning for the blended family is rarely simple. I recently had the pleasure of taking a multiple hour course on estate planning for the blended family. In fact, it was a tele-seminar conducted over 3 weeks to spread out the information. The lecturers were an experienced estate planning attorney (L. Paul Hood) and a psychologist/counselor […]

I work, at least a little bit, even when on vacation. Today, for example, my family and I played in the ocean waters in the morning. Now we are hanging out and checking email. I have already replied to all client emails sitting in my inbox.  I find that my client’s like me to personally […]

I just read the article on the Sacramento Bee’s website (sacbee.com) about the Thomas Kinkade estate dispute. What a horribly unnecessary waste of legal resources! With just a little bit of estate planning Mr. Kinkade could avoid his legal wife and apparent girlfriend from fighting in Court. Each has to hire at least one attorney […]

Any reason to not use a Certified Specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law?  Ok, there isn’t any good reason I admit it.  You MIGHT save a few dollars as some attorneys, who are not specialists, charge less. However, do you really want to entrust all of your hard earned assets and your family’s […]

Probate takes seven months minimum in California. Can be longer but a full California probate will not be shorter than 7 months. Let me explain…. Let’s hypothetically say we meet today, June 26, 2012, to sign your probate documents. I often file documents within 24 hours of the initial meeting so let’s say we file […]

Estate planning is not just about giving your stuff away when you die. It’s about giving your stuff away when you die in the most efficient manner possible and providing the best protections allowable to your loved ones. This is the most simple asset protection available. Anybody that does not include some form of trust […]

Estate planning is more than planning for after death. You can use trusts, and other entities, to create asset protection.  The key is planning AHEAD. Do not wait until you have a problem. Take reasonable precautions by planning ahead.  You can use revocable trusts to create creditor protection for your kids.  You can use irrevocable […]

This is a very useful bulletin issued by the IRS for anybody with taxable estates having one spouse die. The issue of portability is of keen importance to those people where one spouse has died.  Read up and ask your attorney for clarification!  -John Internal Revenue Bulletin: 2011-42 October 17, 2011 Notice 2011-82 Guidance on […]

As I mentioned recently Sacramento county probate Court has several local forms on their website. Here are links to two forms that are required when doing a probate MEDIATION. https://www.saccourt.ca.gov/forms/docs/pr-001.pdf https://www.saccourt.ca.gov/forms/docs/pr-002.pdf