How to Obtain a Divorce Certificate in California By Sandra McCarthy|March 26th, 2021|Divorce| Every divorce story is unique. Maybe you'd been married for a year, or perhaps your marriage lasted for several decades. Perhaps you have children, or maybe you only have pets. Maybe you’re heartbroken, or maybe you’re relieved—or perhaps you feel a bit of both. However you got here, you’ve now found yourself in a situation [...] Read More 5
California Family Probate Court: The First Things You Should Know about By Sandra McCarthy|March 24th, 2021|Probate| Anyone who has experienced a death in the family has probably heard the mysterious term "family probate court” get thrown around. But what exactly does it mean? When a loved one passes away, they leave behind a lifetime of finances. Their final bills and debts must be settled, bank accounts closed, and property distributed. [...] Read More Comments Off on California Family Probate Court: The First Things You Should Know about
Is a Written Contract Better Than a Verbal Agreement? By Sandra McCarthy|March 22nd, 2021|Business| Contracts govern almost every aspect of life in a society. They exist in ways you may not even realize. From accepting website cookies to haggling over prices at a garage sale, agreements are a fundamental part of modern life. A contract is simply a legally binding agreement between parties with the capacity to agree to [...] Read More Comments Off on Is a Written Contract Better Than a Verbal Agreement?
What Is the Cost of Divorce in California? By Sandra McCarthy|March 17th, 2021|Divorce| When a couple decides to get divorced, the potential cost of the process is often at the top of every pre-divorce checklist. This is especially true for couples getting divorced in California—a state with one of the highest costs of living in America. So, what is the cost of divorce in California? That depends [...] Read More Comments Off on What Is the Cost of Divorce in California?
Temporary Guardianship in California: Options for Minor Children By Sandra McCarthy|March 16th, 2021|Family Law| Are you considering your options for temporary guardianship of a minor child in California? Here are just a few of the options available to you. Once you've decided which route to take, be sure to contact A People's Choice for assistance completing and filing your legal documents! Read More 42
Inside Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler’s Divorce By Sandra McCarthy|March 15th, 2021|Divorce| Reality TV star Kristin Cavallari and ex-NFL quarterback Jay Cutler were considered #CoupleGoals by fans of their hit show Very Cavallari. The attractive pair had everything going for them: three beautiful kids, a nice house, budding careers in entertainment, and a loving marriage—or at least the appearance of one. News of their decision to [...] Read More Comments Off on Inside Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler’s Divorce
Can You Clear Out a Home Before Probate in California? By Sandra McCarthy|March 13th, 2021|Probate| A death in the family can be very emotional. It’s a time of mourning and grief, but also cherishing memories and coming to terms with your loved one’s passing. It’s only natural that you might want to collect sentimental items from their home as soon as possible. Unfortunately, you can’t do that in California. [...] Read More 4
What Is a Contested Divorce in California? By Sandra McCarthy|March 11th, 2021|Divorce| Divorce can be hard on everyone. In addition to the emotional stress, it involves figuring out child custody, alimony payments, child support payments, and the like. Most couples would prefer to keep things amicable, but plenty of factors can prevent you from remaining friendly with your soon-to-be-ex. Perhaps there was infidelity or some other form [...] Read More Comments Off on What Is a Contested Divorce in California?
Sia’s Amazing Adoption Story—She Adopted One Son and Ended Up with Two! By Sandra McCarthy|March 8th, 2021|Adoption| You might know Sia for her catchy hits like "Unstoppable," but the megastar has a very different side to her as well. The Grammy-award-winning pop star, 44, adopted two 18-year-olds out of the foster care system last year. During an interview with SiriusXM, the typically private singer confirmed she adopted kids in 2019. “I [...] Read More Comments Off on Sia’s Amazing Adoption Story—She Adopted One Son and Ended Up with Two!
What is a Probate Referee in California? By Sandra McCarthy|March 6th, 2021|Probate| If you are settling an estate through the probate process, most likely you will need a probate referee. The role of a probate referee is to appraise property in the estate. A probate referee is a professional, usually an attorney, a certified public accountant, or a person with several years of professional experience in property [...] Read More 18
California Living Trust Checklist By Sandra McCarthy|March 4th, 2021|Estate Planning| With our living trust preparation checklist, a DIY trust is possible! Plus, by working with a registered legal document assistant such as A People's Choice, you can avoid high attorney's fees for help drafting your trust. Read on for our complete California living trust checklist and to learn more about the necessary actions that come along with writing a trust. Read More 6
How to Find Divorce Records in California By Sandra McCarthy|March 3rd, 2021|Divorce| We’ve all heard of the statistic “50% of all marriages end in divorce.” It perfectly illustrates just how common divorce is in America. The good news is that that statistic is from the 80s, and things have gotten much better since then. Divorce rates for most age groups have dropped over the past 30 years, [...] Read More Comments Off on How to Find Divorce Records in California
What We Can Learn About Estate Planning from Sean Connery’ Death By Sandra McCarthy|March 2nd, 2021|Estate Planning| One of the more high-profile deaths we had in 2020 was of Sir Sean Connery, who died peacefully on October 31, 2020, in his home in the Bahamas at 90 years old. Connery had a prolific, multi-decade acting career, but he was probably best known for his role as James Bond. He was the [...] Read More Comments Off on What We Can Learn About Estate Planning from Sean Connery’ Death
Advance Healthcare Directive By vitalinbound|March 1st, 2021| California Advance Healthcare Directive Create your advance healthcare directive today State your desires about your healthcare in any situation in which you are unable to make your own decisions and choose who may speak on your behalf. The agent you name in your healthcare directive has the power to: Give [...] Read More Comments Off on Advance Healthcare Directive
Financial Power of Attorney By vitalinbound|March 1st, 2021| California Financial Power of Attorney Create your financial power of attorney today This important document makes sure your personal affairs can be property handled without the delay and cost of court intervention. The attorney-in-fact you appoint has the authority to do some or all of the following: Use your assets [...] Read More Comments Off on Financial Power of Attorney
Revocable Trust By vitalinbound|March 1st, 2021| California Revocable Trust Estate Plan Establish your living trust estate plan today A revocable trust is often the most important part of a person’s estate plan. Also known as a living trust, a revocable trust: Enables the estate to avoid probate in California Will avoid a court conservatorship in case [...] Read More Comments Off on Revocable Trust
Trust Package By vitalinbound|March 1st, 2021| California Living Trust Estate Plan Package Establish your living trust estate plan today Our all-inclusive estate planning document package provides you with peace of mind knowing all your bases are covered. A complete estate plan is a group of documents that defines: Who receives your possessions when you pass away [...] Read More Comments Off on Trust Package
Special Needs Trust By vitalinbound|March 1st, 2021| California Special Needs Trust Estate Plan Protect the needs, lifestyle, and future well-being of your loved one A special needs trust is created for the sole benefit of a disabled or mentally ill beneficiary. There are many benefits of a special needs trust in estate planning: Maintain SSI or Medicaid [...] Read More Comments Off on Special Needs Trust
Are Divorce Records Public in California? By Sandra McCarthy|February 26th, 2021|Divorce| Divorced couples in California may wonder: are divorce records public? After all, many people value their privacy, and divorce is often a messy topic. The short answer is yes: divorce records are public in California. This means anyone can obtain a copy of your divorce decree. This can be a nightmare for people who [...] Read More Comments Off on Are Divorce Records Public in California?
What happens if I don’t have a power of attorney? By Sandra McCarthy|February 26th, 2021|Financial POA FAQs| The main reason to create a Durable Power of Attorney for finances is to avoid court proceedings if you become incapacitated. If you don’t have a Durable Power of Attorney, your relatives or other loved ones will have to file formal court proceedings and ask a judge to name someone to manage your financial affairs. [...] Read More 0