When a loved one passes away, their homeowners’ and auto insurance policies probably aren’t at the top of your list of concerns. Insurance companies understand that, which is why they typically give families 30 days to notify them of a policy holder’s death....
A Better Legal Experience From Start To Finish
Year: 2021
2 kinds of estate fraud that could impact what you inherit
When someone close to you dies, nothing will diminish the pain of that loss. However, as time passes, you may turn to the legacy left behind by your loved one as a reminder of how important they were to you and how much they valued you. Many people carefully plan...
Can nursing home workers accept gifts or bequests from patients?
Your parent has spent the last year in a nursing home. They have become close with the care workers. You have met these individuals and generally liked them, feeling that they were doing a good job taking care of your parent in these final months of their life. Then...
What debts are the top priority during estate administration?
Paying the deceased's creditors is a big part of an executor's responsibility. In fact, executors can end up with personal financial responsibility for any debts that go unpaid if creditors can show the estate had enough assets to pay them. If an estate does not have...
How do you prove undue influence?
One of the grounds on which you can bring a will contest is undue influence. It means someone has used their position to persuade a person to change or make a will in a certain way leading to inequity. We are all influenced by other people all the time, yet sometimes...
2 crucial protections that title insurance provides
When you bought your house or investment property, your lender likely required you to have title insurance. Most people never need their title insurance and don't bother to learn very much about it. However, for those people who have a title issue arise with their...
Americans are getting buried in debt
The majority of Americans are taking their debt to the grave. As debt increases, so do the problems creditors face in probate and trust litigation. Many Californians think of enjoying their golden years with no more mortgage, student and car loans or credit-card...
How do you file a claim against someone’s estate?
Someone who owes you money may be slow about paying you back. You may have to agree to small monthly payments, especially if they are an older adult living on a fixed income. Being flexible makes it easier for people to pay you back, but it also means you risk not...
What are your options if you inherit a home that’s “upside-down” on the mortgage?
You inherited a loved one’s home, only to find out that the amount left on the mortgage is greater than the home’s current value. That’s what’s called being “upside-down” or “underwater” on the mortgage. Maybe your loved one didn’t intend for this to happen. They...
Dealing with an estate’s difficult heirs
There’s an old saying that “weddings and funerals bring out the best and the worst in people.” As the executor of someone’s estate, you may (unfortunately) find out exactly how true part of that saying really can be. Disputes with an estate’s heirs can be one of the...