Update on Aretha Franklin’s estate legal battle

A previous post on this blog discussed the fact that there has been considerable controversy surrounding the estate of Aretha Franklin, the world-famous singer who died about this time last year. As that previous post stated, some family members have questioned the actions of Ms. Franklin’s niece, who is serving as personal representative. These family...

Medicaid planning explained

Many people in Northern California who are approaching retirement may also be thinking about how they are going to afford the cost of long-term care. As people age, after all, they may require the assistance of a retirement facility or of a nursing home, but these services can cost thousands of dollars a month. Most...

Famous singer’s estate in turmoil

The battle over the famous rhythm and blues singer Aretha Franklin’s estate is continuing. The latest move involved one of Ms. Franklin’s sons asking the court hearing the case to be appointed personal representative, helping and then eventually replacing Ms. Franklin’s niece. The niece has been acting as executor since last year. According to the...

Special needs trusts are a useful estate planning tool

Many people in Redding and other parts of Northern California probably have someone in their family with special needs due to some sort of disability, illness or injury. These special needs can include the need for medical care and other treatments. In some cases, the person with special needs may require assistance going through daily...

We look for practical solutions to probate issues

Even when everyone is getting along within a family, going through the administration of an estate in probate court can be a long and stressful process. In all significant probate cases, there will be paperwork and other legal obligations that the designated personal representative must satisfy. Moreover, obstacles to a smooth estate administration can come...

Loved ones of beloved actor will be grateful for estate plan

Many people probably remember Actor Luke Perry from his years on the teen drama Beverly Hills 90210. His fans and supporters, needless to say his personal friends and loved ones, were likely shocked and saddened by his recent death brought on by a series of strokes. As one media outlet reported, the actor’s family ultimately...

What is a spendthrift trust?

While many people think of trusts as a way to avoid probate, there are actually a number of ways by which trusts can benefit a Redding, California resident who is trying to formulate an effective estate plan. For instance, trusts can help with tax-related issues, issues involving eligibility for benefits and the like. They also...

Overview of the California probate process

While some in the world of law treat probate as a kind of a dirty word that inevitably spells years of time, money and emotional heartache, the term actually refers to the process of distributing a person’s property after he or she dies. For a lot of historical and other reasons, this process is typically...

Why it’s important to avoid trust funding missteps

Trusts can be tailored to help with a wide range of estate planning goals. However, there are certain mistakes that could compromise this estate planning tool’s ability to serve its intended purposes. One type of error that can lead to this are missteps in setting up a trust. What terms a trust contains when it...