Archbishop Richard Cushing once said, “Always plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.” This statement greatly reflects the importance of planning. People plan for many reasons, but the prominent reason is to make the future easier and less stressful for them. For Noah, that meant building a vessel big enough to [...]

According to author Henrietta Newton Martin, "To curtail complications and help in the procedure of devolution of assets after death, a will has to be well prepared and written.” It is with this quote in mind that we aim to demystify the often confusing concepts of estate planning and administration. Whether you're planning your [...]

As a popular saying attributed to Japanese writer Haruki Murakami goes, "death is not the opposite of life but a part of it." That brings to mind the fact that although death can stop a person from living, it can’t stop the person’s legacy from thriving. This, is related to the far less poetic, [...]

If you know anyone who has gone through the California probate process, then you may have noticed that it can take some time. The real question is, how long does probate take in California? The answer is, inconveniently, that it depends. The duration of probate is contingent upon several factors, including the estate’s complexity, the [...]

Probate is no picnic to those who are unfamiliar with the process. For one, if you’ve been chosen as a personal representative for an estate, you’ll need a complete understanding of what a personal representative has to do with both probate and non-probate assets. And, unfortunately, California probate law doesn’t make things easier. [...]