Estate Planning Defined – Can The Trustee of a Continuing Trust Who is Also The Beneficiary Withdraw Trust Principal?

by | Dec 27, 2010 | Estate Planning, Probate (also known as "Estate Administration"), Trust Administration

Issue: I recently received the following question from a Caller: I am a beneficiary of a “Bypass Trust,” which was set up after my Father’s death and had been managed for the benefit of my Mother during her remaining lifetime. My Mother just died. I...

Estate Planning Defined – What are the “Pros” and “Cons” of “Transmuting” Property Owned by a Married Couple in California?

by | Dec 14, 2010 | Estate Planning, Probate (also known as "Estate Administration"), Trust Administration

Issue: Married couples who reside in California have the opportunity to accumulate community property, separate property, quasi-community property, or some combination of the three. Sometimes a married person may wish to convert his or her separate property to the...

Estate Planning Defined – How Can an HEIR AT LAW Recover Her Share of an Inheritance After the Close of the Probate of Her Relative’s Estate?

by | Dec 8, 2010 | Probate (also known as "Estate Administration"), Trust Administration, Uncategorized

I recently received a question from a potential client who called me regarding the probate of a relative’s estate. She told me that her relative died without a Last Will & Testament in place. Apparently, the Caller was not notified that her relative had died...