Probate

Here in California, we know that between earthquakes and fires, the possibility of our home being destroyed is, while unlikely, nonetheless a very real possibility. The most important thing in a disaster is to get all of the people and animals out of the house safely...

There's more to an estate plan than writing a will. In fact, a complete estate plan can transfer your financial and physical property to your heirs without your assets being subject to the California probate process.The purpose of probate is to make sure a will is...

We hear the word a lot - probate - but what does it really mean?Put simply, it's the process in California and throughout the United States when it comes to determining the validity of a will and then acting upon that will to distribute the assets of a deceased...

Soul singer James Brown died Dec. 25, 2006, at age 73. His estate still hasn't been settled.It's a cautionary tale of what happens when estate planning isn't done properly, and the repercussions are about to felt for the 13th year. His death opened the floodgates to a...

A San Francisco woman whose father founded apparel companies The North Face and Esprit has lost her latest battle to gain some of the money from his estate.A California probate court already had ruled that her father's estate plan would stand, and the state Second...

As much as we Californians don't like to think about our own death, we have to -- for the sake of those whom we love.Think about it. If you don't leave a will or a trust, your granddaughter might not have access to the funds you promised her for college tuition. Do...