Author: chudleighlaw

Top 3 Reasons To Avoid Probate (And Why You Should Consult With An Orange County Estate Planning Attorney Today) If you live in California, and your assets are subject to probate, your heirs will be in for a few (unpleasant) surprises. Without a proper estate plan in place, when you pass away your family will likely have to visit a probate court in order to claim their inheritance. This can...

3 Celebrity Estate Planning Disasters With extreme wealth accumulated, one would assume that celebrities would take the necessary steps to protect their estates. But think again: Some of the world’s richest and most famous celebrities enter the pearly gates with no estate plan in place.  Others have made estate planning mistakes that tied their fortunes and heirs up for years in court.   An...

Protecting Your Children’s Inheritance When You are Divorced Consider this story. Beth’s divorce from her husband was recently finalized. Her most valuable assets are her retirement plan at work and her life insurance policy. She updated the beneficiary designations on both to be her two minor children. She did not want her ex-husband to receive the money. Beth passes away one year after...

What to Know About Vehicle Recalls Surprisingly, automobiles are recalled on a regular basis in the United States. Sometimes vehicle recalls are issued by the company, but most recalls are done by a mandate from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and the Consumer Protection Agency. It’s important to understand this process as recalls are intended to save lives, and that...

WHAT IS A LIVING TRUST? An orange county estate planning attorney can help make a revocable trust part of your estate plan A revocable trust (commonly called a living trust) is a part of an estate plan that helps minimize estate taxes and probate expenses. A trust is a fiduciary arrangement that allows a trustee (yourself or a third party) to hold assets on behalf of a beneficiary. There...