On behalf of Louis Pacella, Attorney at Law posted in Wills on Thursday, June 6, 2013 People in Southern California want their estate plan to reflect their wishes and be executed smoothly and with minimal costs when the time comes. But despite their best intentions, there are mistakes that are commonly made in creating a will or trust that …. Read More
Much of the time, the named executor of an estate in Los Angeles is not an attorney or someone else who has dealt with handling an estate’s affairs before. Many people select a relative or trusted friend to serve as executor when they write their will or trust. While many times, the probate process goes fairly …. Read More
Handling the transfer of digital property after death is not something that most people think about. Nevertheless, your photos of the family or videos of once-in-a-lifetime experiences can disappear if they are not protected. Fortunately, a new estate-planning device can facilitate the transfer of these electronic assets. Recently, Google released a new system for users of Gmail, …. Read More
When a person in Los Angeles dies without expressing his or her wishes for his or her estate, that is a legal condition known as “intestate.” Under California law, an intestate estate generally passes to the deceased’s surviving spouse or children. But if there is no spouse, children or immediate relatives, it may become necessary …. Read More
Should You Have A Will Or A Trust? – A common question from our readers. Most of our readers in Los Angeles and Ventura counties understand that estate planning is important for ensuring that our property is distributed as we wish after death. But for many people, when it comes time to decide how to …. Read More
It is safe to say that most people in Los Angeles would like to pass on from this life with as few regrets as possible. Among the most important things in many people’s lives is family. When there is a rift between family members, often it is hoped that the feud can be put aside …. Read More
A claim of slightly more than $1 million made on the estate of film director Tony Scott has been rejected by the administrators of the estate. The claim had been filed by Creative Artists Agency, which served as Scott’s talent agency, which said that Scott owed the company commissions for several of Scott’s film projects. …. Read More
Readers in Los Angeles no doubt remember James Brown, the “hardest working man in show business” who was one of the most popular music stars of his time. They may also recall that a major probate fight erupted after Brown’s death in 2006. In the latest twist in that probate case, the South Carolina Supreme …. Read More
Besides it being a somewhat uncomfortable subject to think about, many people in Calabasas may be reluctant to take on estate planning because it seems complex. For example, some readers might wonder whether a will or a trust would be a better fit for their goals. More generally, deciding what to leave to whom may …. Read More
Most wills and trusts drawn up in Los Angeles County name the person’s family members, perhaps along with favorite charities, as beneficiaries. But some people may not have families or many close friends. In cases like that, the person’s will may name surprising beneficiaries, including people he or she barely knows — if they have …. Read More
