Estate Planning

To successfully challenge someone's will or estate plan, you need legal grounds to do so. Some people focus on outside influence that unduly impacted the estate plan, while others try to prove that a testator lacked the necessary cognitive capacity when signing the...

When you are owed a debt but the person who owes the debt dies, you may think that you have no options available to help you collect. The truth is that once a person passes away, you can pursue a claim against the estate to get back compensation for the debts owed....

When your mother or father is getting up in age, the last thing you want to do is leave them vulnerable to being taken advantage of. On one hand, you know that they are still currently capable of taking care of themselves, but on the other, you know that their mental...

Whether you loan someone money or have a judgment against them from a civil lawsuit, you have a reasonable right to expect them to fulfill their financial obligations to you. They should continue making payments to you according to your loan agreement or the terms of...

You may not believe that the will or other estate planning documents produced when your loved one died are accurate and reliable. You suspect that your stepparent manipulated your biological parent into changing their estate plan or believe that there have been...

Those who die in California will have their estates pass through the California probate courts. If they leave behind an estate plan or will, their documents will determine what happens to their property. Otherwise, California intestate succession laws will guide the...

It is against the law to abuse or mistreat someone, especially individuals in vulnerable positions. If there is evidence that someone physically abused a family member or older adult in their care, they could face prosecution. However, many people who mistreat older...

When someone writes a will, it is usually with the intention of those wishes being carried out. Unfortunately, when people are manipulated or confused, they may make changes that they don’t really want. There are times when it’s appropriate to contest a will and its...

Probate administration is a complex process. You have numerous responsibilities to manage if you agree to serve as the executor of an estate. You have to contact family members and beneficiaries. You have to send notice to creditors. You will also have to arrange for...

A fiduciary duty is a legal responsibility assigned to a person in a position of trust, like the executor of an estate or a trustee, to act in another's best interests. If they fail to do so, they have breached their fiduciary duty, and in that case, you may seek...