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5 Important Estate Planning Lessons You Should Know

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According to research conducted by the University of Pennsylvania, only 29.3 percent of Americans have a healthcare directive specifying their end-of-life wishes. Perhaps even more stunning, a survey from Caring.com found that less than half of adults in the U.S. have prepared estate planning documents, such as wills or living trusts. Here are five tips … Read more5 Important Estate Planning Lessons You Should Know

Your Will – And Other Important Estate Planning Documents

The Importance of Having a Living Trust in California

Your will is an important document that can ensure that your property will make it into the right hands once you pass away. Without a will, your property is at risk of being divided according to California’s rules of interstate succession. While these rules will mean that your property will be passed down, it is … Read moreYour Will – And Other Important Estate Planning Documents

Can I Sue if My Insurance Company Acts in Bad Faith?

Courtroom, Judge, male judge in black mirror background

Do you suspect your insurance company is acting in bad faith? Remember that your policy is paid-for and as such, your insurance company upholds a promise to provide you insurance protection. The company further is responsible for negotiating and settling claims in good faith. If you believe that an insurance company isn’t negotiating in good … Read moreCan I Sue if My Insurance Company Acts in Bad Faith?

Who Gets the Dog in a Divorce in California?

During divorce proceedings, the division of property is a common procedure most couples must go through. However, some divorcing couples can’t seem to see eye-to-eye on who gets the dog after the divorce. Dogs are often considered important members of the family and who the dog goes to may be very important to divorcing spouses. … Read moreWho Gets the Dog in a Divorce in California?

Can I Make Sure My Assets Are Not Distributed Through the Probate Process?

The probate process involves the court distributing a person’s assets upon death. It usually occurs in situations where a person does not have a will. However, just because a person has a will does not mean that their assets will definitely not be distributed through the probate process. What to Do to Prevent Your Assets … Read moreCan I Make Sure My Assets Are Not Distributed Through the Probate Process?

When Is a No Contest Clause Ineffective in Probate Court?

The Importance of Having a Living Trust in California

The California Court of Appeal just handed down an opinion very strictly limiting the application of a no contest clause contained within trust to later trust amendments.

Peggy was battling cancer for 5 years, during which time her friends, Tracy and David, became the exclusive suppliers of medical cannabis upon which Peggy depended for treatment.  Anticipating her demise, Peggy placed Tracy in custody of all of her estate planning documents.  Soon after, Peggy complained that Tracy read the documents and confronted her about the disposition of her estate.  Shortly after, Peggy executed a trust amendment created in secret, and without advice or assistance of her longtime estate planning attorney, leaving all of her money to Tracy – to the exclusion of Peggy’s brother and godchildren, natural objects of her bounty, and beneficiaries under the estate plan in existence when placed in Tracy’s custody.  After Peggy’s demise, Tracy produced the trust amendment, and the beneficiaries went straight to court.

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Water Company Ordered to Pay Ojai Playhouse Damages

In 2014, the historic Ojai Playhouse movie theater suffered damage after a water main break caused a flood. Now, a judge has ordered the former water purveyor of the town to pay the establishment $2.7 million worth of damages.

Golden State Water Co. once managed the water system for Ojai. The company was ordered to pay brothers Khaled Al-Awar and Walid Al-Awar, the owners of the playhouse, almost $2 million for repairs made after the theater was severely damaged, which was ordered by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Vincent O’Neill on July 19, 2017.

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Personal Injuries During the Summertime

Summertime is definitely a fun time for everyone. But with the added fun comes dangerous situations. Swimming, hiking and bike riding are just a few of the activities that we love to participate in during the summer, but certainly, there are many more things that we enjoy doing outside in the summertime.

Unfortunately, just one incident is all it takes to turn our world upside down. And when we suffer personal injuries, it can be difficult to recover.

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