By Justin J. Lee, Esq. It is common knowledge that California is a community property state. In community property states, spouses jointly own nearly all assets and debts acquired in marriage. Generally speaking, community property encompasses assets earned or acquired by one or both spouses during the marriage while they lived in the community property state, as…
The passing of a family member presents challenges on multiple fronts. In addition to grieving, practical responsibilities need attention. For example, their accounts must be settled, including utilities, insurance, memberships, digital subscriptions, and other recurring payment programs. Resolving these accounts aids in preventing avoidable fees and safeguards against identity theft. Your initial step should be…
Some businesses could not pull through the increased expenses inflation has brought on over the past few years unscathed. Due to this, companies have put employees out of work or laid off employees to reduce costs. If you are dealing with the stress of recent unemployment, remember you are not alone. You can use this…
Undue influence is a legal term used to describe a situation where a person is forced or manipulated into making a decision against their own free will. In California, undue influence can be used to invalidate a contract, will, or other legal documents. It can also be used to establish a claim for financial fraud…
The story starts just like any other. Mom, who had been diagnosed with dementia a couple of years prior, met a man while out on a walk (we’ll call him “Stranger”). Within a couple of weeks, Stranger moved into Mom’s house and professed his love to Mom, and proposed. Mom was a widow and, between…
A Trust Dispute It made headlines when Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of the great Elvis Presley, suddenly passed away on January 12, 2023. However, shortly after that, the headlines quickly shifted to the dispute over who will be handling Lisa Marie’s trust now that she has passed away. In 1993, Lisa Marie established a trust…
When a loved one passes away, the successor trustee distributes the assets according to the decedent’s last wish. During that time, emotions are high, and things can become contentious and potentially lead to a lawsuit. This can happen even if the trustee is doing everything right. Transparency is a way to reduce the stress for…
So, you’ve found yourself in the position of trustee and are managing your loved one’s estate while they are still alive. What are your duties to account to the eventual beneficiaries of your loved one’s estate? And what if your loved one is incompetent, thus the reason you are now overseeing their estate? Beneficiaries Left…