Make sure you are on official IRS webpage when applying for EIN or TIN
Make sure you are on official IRS webpage when applying for EIN or TIN! I was trading emails with a probate client today and he said he was going to apply for a tin (tax identification number) and...
View ArticleMake sure you get a California Probate COURT attorney
A lot of attorneys call themselves a “probate attorney.” My question to you is: do you want a “probate attorney” or a “probate court attorney?” My suggestion is you make sure you get a California...
View ArticleFixing or amending a California probate court order part 1
I recently got to diagnose a new case that I thought would really speak to some of my readers. A potential client (we’ll call him Mr. P) called me about a case where his wife had died and he believed...
View ArticleHow long does a California probate take in 2022?
I decided to post this question as it’s been too long since I posted something new on here. I had been waiting to post Fixing or amending a California probate court order part 2 but that case is on the...
View ArticleCalifornia small estate probate – NEW FORM DE-300
As of April 1, 2022 (and no this is not an April Fools joke) the small estate limits have been changed in California. They have been increased FOR DEATHS OCCURING ON OR AFTER APRIL 1, 2022. The limits...
View ArticleHow do you lodge a will in a California probate?
People are often confused on this one. How do you lodge a will in a California probate? Many people, over the years, have asked if you file the will with the county clerk or with the county recorder....
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Twenty-four things dying people wished they had done differently
Twenty-four things dying people wished they had done differently are listed below. What about you? Are you living your best life? Are you saving money to benefit your kids in the future? Will your...
View ArticleHouse appreciation and probate costs
Many people are unsure and unaware how attorney fees and court costs work in a California probate case. With amazing house appreciation the last 10 years I wanted to talk a little bit about how house...
View ArticleAncillary probate and property taxes in California
I selected the topic of Ancillary probate and property taxes in California because it’s a common discussion in my office and much more so since the passage of Prop 19 in California. Prop 19 ripped the...
View ArticleWhy are many attorneys so slow?
I ask the question why are many attorneys so slow but really the question for today is why are some California probate attorneys so slow… and the converse… why are we SO EFFICIENT? I have heard...
View ArticleWhere to file probate for a California bank account?
The question of where to file probate for a California bank account, when the person who died lived in another state or country, brings into play what are called the ancillary probate rules. Ancillary...
View ArticleProbate for people who died after moving from California
I don’t think I am telling you anything you don’t already know. People are moving out of California. This post is not about that phenomenon or the political ramifications or reasons. This post is...
View ArticleAnother California celebrity dies without a will – Coolio
As an old school rap aficionado myself I was saddened to hear that Coolio had passed. He had a couple of big songs so wasn’t a one hit wonder. However, maybe a two hit wonder!? In any event, I liked...
View ArticleHappy new year 2023 – GET YOUR WILL DONE
Each year people plan their new year’s resolutions and each year, for many people, “get will done” is on the list. Another year has passed and, for many of us, that is one more year without a proper...
View ArticleEstate planning treasure map to leave your loved ones
As a California estate attorney since 1994 I have planned thousands of estates with people during their lives and, likewise, dealt with thousands of estates after death in trust administration and also...
View ArticleSalton Sea real estate and California probate
I recently was contacted by a potential client trying to clear up title to land in Imperial County, California. When I looked it up I realized it was at, and appears to be beach front, at the Salton...
View ArticleUS Post Office Change of Address At Death for a Deceased Person
What do you to handle a US Post Office Change of Address At Death for a Deceased Person? That is, when a loved one dies how do you change their mailing address? Furthermore, WHY would you want to...
View ArticleNevada Ancillary Probate tied to a California Probate
I am just going to admit it right here… I really like Las Vegas, Nevada. Ok, that has little to do with the California probate process as I like the action, nightlife, entertainment and sports. As they...
View ArticleI will get a living trust as part of my new years resolution!
I have blogged about this many new years in the past and, here I am again, reminding you. Yes, I have my living trust in place but DO YOU? To me it seems very normal for people to say “I will get a...
View ArticleMy mom died last year and it’s time to start the probate process
I am going to classify this a client story because I have heard this scenario so many times. I have been doing estate and probate work since the 1990’s! When I first did probate work the California...
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