When your parents move to an assisted living facility or pass away, you can be left with many personal items you have no room or use for. What can you do with the extra furniture, china and silver, clothing, jewelry and knick-knacks that your parents left behind? Like...
San Jose Estate Law Blog
What is a probate referee?
The estate administration process in San Jose can often become contentious. While you and all others who are party to an estate may start out with the stated intention of avoiding discord, you may be surprised at how quickly it can arise when people fear that their...
Preparing to manage estate taxes
You may have resigned yourself to the notion of having your estate taxed as being an inevitability. Many in San Jose come to us here at with the same assumption, as well as concerns that having to pay tax will leave little to go their...
Spendthrift trusts can allow for responsible financial habits
Many families across California can identify with having children, grandchildren or other beneficiaries that failed to inherit the same diligent savings habits as their parents or grandparents. As you plan your estate, you may worry about how these loved ones may cope...
What is a living will?
In all likelihood, you have some pretty specific ideas about the type of medical care and treatment you want and do not want at the end of your life. But who will carry out your wishes when the time comes if you are too ill or incapacitated to make your wishes known?...
What happens if you die in debt?
With more people in California over the age of 75 accruing credit card debt and mortgages than in previous decades, it is becoming increasingly likely that you may leave debts behind for your heirs rather than assets. If you are in debt, it can be difficult to look...
What if one dies without a will?
Experts counsel people both in San Jose and throughout the rest of the U.S. to see to their estate planning early on in their adult lives. Yet even so, many American adults do not have a will. What happens, then, if you have a family member dies without ever preparing...
The importance of succession planning for family businesses
Running a family business comes with a lot of day-to-day demands. So, the owners of such companies may have their thoughts fixed on the present. However, it can be critical for such owners to also plan for the future. This includes having plans for what will happen...
What are the legal grounds for challenging a will?
Challenging the validity of a will is not an action to take lightly. The process will likely be emotional, expensive and difficult to win. However, challenging the validity of a will can be the most appropriate action in certain circumstances, and can result in part...
What to Watch Out for If There’s a Sudden Death in Your Family
Did you know that Anthony Bourdain's will revealed that the celebrity chef and author had an estate of only $1.21 million? Estimates of the TV star's worth had been around $16 million, which made the revelations from his will even more startling. This is an example of...

