Biddle Law Estate Planning Blog

It is certainly a good idea to create and regularly review your will with an experienced estate planning and probate attorney. In it you are able to share your wishes for what you would like to happen after you pass away, including who you wish to inherit which assets.
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Most headlines surrounding celebrities are filled with drama and often possible misrepresentations. So, it was not likely a surprise to read that the late actor, Burt Reynolds, reportedly left his son, Quinton, out of his Will when he did his estate planning.
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Probate is how an estate gets settled under court supervision. When someone dies intestate (without a Will), the court will appoint an individual (usually an adult child or surviving spouse). However, if there is a Will, it may contain a nomination for an individual to appoint as an executor of the Will. This individual has authority under the law to gather and to value the assets of the estate, to pay taxes and bills, and to distribute the assets to the named beneficiaries of the Will (those whom the decedent assigned an asset to be left to).

What is the Purpose of Probate?

The purpose of probate is to prevent the occurrence of fraud after someone has passed away.
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California estate planning attorneys know that, while you can't always protect senior citizens from becoming victims of elder abuse, having a comprehensive estate plan is an important step in the right direction. 

As we age, our physical and mental capacities generally diminish, leaving elders vulnerable to physical, emotional, and financial abuse by predators.
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What happens when someone won’t return an estate asset?

San Mateo estate planning attorneys know that the best way to secure your own future and that of your loved ones and ensure that your property ends up in the hands of those you want to have it after you’re gone is through a comprehensive estate plan.

While an estate plan virtually always results in your wishes being followed, sometimes will contest or other wrinkles arise that may threaten your plans and/or result in estate litigation.
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 Q: Can a trustee be removed due to lack of mental capacity?

Historically, princesses have been portrayed as being surrounded by riches and being accustomed to having their own way. But estate planning attorneys can tell you, they are subject to the same rules as everyone else when it comes to their trusts and estates.

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How can I avoid probate in California?

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California estate planning lawyers are often asked by clients whether they should tell their adult children or other loved ones what they will inherit under their will. In the vast majority of cases, that disclosure will evoke feelings of gratitude on behalf of the intended beneficiaries.

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Q: Why do same-sex couples need estate planning?

After decades of fighting the good fight, the LGBT community scored a major victory when it won the constitutional right to marriage equality in the 2015 United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell vs. Hodges.

The landmark decision conferred valuable federal privileges and rights upon same-sex married couples, similar to those enjoyed by heterosexual married couples.  But just as it is inadvisable for heterosexual couples to die without wills...

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Q: Can I change my estate plan?

Getting started with estate planning in California is simple. The hardest part is usually overcoming the natural inclination many people have to postpone facing their own mortality or potential disability.
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Why is it important to review your estate plan periodically?

You’ve taken the critically important step of making an estate plan. Now what? While it may be tempting to shove your will in a desk drawer and forget about it, estate planning lawyers recommend that you routinely review your estate plan to ensure that it is up-to-date with your current lifestyle and conforms to any newly passed laws.

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