An executor serves as your representative after you die. The executor pays outstanding debts and taxes, gathers and safeguards assets, distributes property according to your will, and works with the probate court if necessary. In practice, the executor often also acts as an administrator and a recordkeeper and may serve as an intermediary among […]
Wills
Before You Write a Handwritten Will, Watch This Video
The answer to that is, which is a pretty common attorney answer, is it depends. So many people think that just kind of jotting down their wishes on a piece of paper is enough to create a valid will. And that is not necessarily true. So in general, states have pretty strict laws and formalities […]
Can You Write Your Own Will in California, or Do You Need an Attorney?
Can you write your own will in California? The short answer is yes, but the question worth asking is not whether you can write your own will. The better question is whether doing so will hold up when your family needs it most. What California Law Allows A holographic will is a will written entirely […]
True or False: You Can Disinherit Someone in Your Will?
So that is generally true. You know, each person who owns assets and is maybe going to be leaving assets to beneficiaries after their death can disinherit a person, meaning not include them in their will. And actually, you know, specifically exclude that person. How it works here generally in California is, you know, if […]
Top Tips for Multi-Generational Estate Planning
Multi-generational estate planning looks beyond a single transfer of assets. You are planning for children, grandchildren, and sometimes future beneficiaries who have not yet been born. That longer time horizon changes how decisions are made and which risks deserve attention. Assets must move according to your instructions while remaining protected from mismanagement, creditor exposure, family […]
What Are the Requirements for a Valid Will in California
When you think about estate planning, a will is often the first document that comes to mind. A will is familiar, widely discussed, and deeply rooted in popular understanding of how property passes at death. Still, California law does not treat wills casually. Very specific legal rules determine whether a will is valid, and missing […]
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