You can buy it on Amazon if you prefer. Or email me for a PDF copy of my book HOW TO LIVE AND DIE WITH CALIFORNIA PROBATE (A Layman’s Guide to Understanding Probate in California) It has been printed and is in my hot little hands! If you want to pick up a copy at […]

We have handled many pharmaceutical drug class action and personal injury lawsuits in probate court.  Recently we have represented many people pursuing settlements in the Actos liver medication lawsuits. We are not the class action or personal injury lawyer. We are the probate attorneys who help when the person who took the medication passed away. […]

How does one go about notifying the California Department of Health Care Services (aka: “Medi-Cal”) of the death of a friend or loved one? You can have an attorney help you or just go to this handy link on their website. Once there click on NOTICE OF DEATH. Another screen is brought up where you […]

“My husband died and the mortgage company won’t talk to me.” This is becoming a common statement that I hear. Mortgages and the actual deed to real estate are NOT connected. They are separate.  So, for example, if a spouse dies with a house in their name the other spouse can often use a “spousal […]

I have a new case where the decedent’s son contacted me about starting a probate. He wasn’t quite ready as he had other things going on in life. Well, last week he called, in a panic, because one of his mom’s creditors had started probate! That’s right. A creditor, in a California probate, can start […]

People often complain about the California probate code. Now YOU can help fix it! According to this GCN.com article there will be a crowdsourcing feature to modify and amend the code on wiki.  GCN is the only website reporting this at the moment. Read about it here.

I pride myself on rarely having to seek continuances in probate court. That is, I try to be prepared and take care of my business BEFORE the court date so as to avoid continuances. Historically continuances, in Sacramento county, have been 4 weeks out.  I am speaking of the Sacramento probate court when I say […]

UPDATED 2/21/18 A prospective client asked me this question the other day and I said I didn’t know the answer off hand. Sort of funny that I didn’t know as I have been doing this since 1994. That is, I have focused my law practice on estate planning, trust and probate law for all these […]

INTRODUCTION I get asked this question a lot.  ”What can I expect at my upcoming probate Court date?”  Or, “how soon after my Court date will I have letters testamentary?”  Or even, “do I need to be at my Court date?” COURT ATTENDANCE Let me start with the last one… NO. Generally speaking there is […]

I saw this great piece on the Wall Street Journal’s webpage. It is a chart of succession to the throne. It reminds me of the California laws of intestacy. That is, if someone dies who inherits their stuff. In this Wall Street Journal piece, on wsj.com, it’s who will inherit the THRONE!  Anyway, check it […]