Grief and litigation are a brutal mix. If you’ve just lost a parent and something about their Will doesn’t feel right, slow down. A Will contest is one of the most consequential legal decisions a family can make—emotionally, financially, and relationally. Here’s a clear, California-focused guide to what a contest involves, when it’s warranted, and how to protect yourself before you take the first step. What a Will Contest Actually Is (and Isn’t) A Will contest asks the probate court to … [Read more...] about Should You Contest Your Parent’s Will? Read This Before You Decide
General
Should I Contest My Parent’s Will?
If you recently experienced the death of a parent, you are undoubtedly going through an extremely emotional time period. Making decisions when you are highly emotional is not usually a wise idea; however, there are a number of practical and legal decisions that often must be made shortly after the death of a loved one. You may, for example, be thinking about contesting your parent’s Last Will and Testament. Such an important decision should never be made without first consulting with an … [Read more...] about Should I Contest My Parent’s Will?
Can I Amend My Last Will and Testament?
While many people include a trust agreement in their estate plan, a Last Will and Testament continues to serve as the foundation for most estate plans. If you have a Will in place, you may have executed that Will some time ago. In the intervening years, circumstances may have changed prompting the need to make changes to your Will. A Los Angeles estate planning lawyer at Collins Law Firm explains your options for amending your Will. Last Will and Testament Basics A Last Will and … [Read more...] about Can I Amend My Last Will and Testament?
Gentrification and its Effects on the Black Community
As neighborhoods change, some families get pushed out. Most people believe that displacement of families is the direct result of gentrification or new land development. However, the vast majority of poor neighborhoods across the country aren’t gentrifying. Outside of large bustling cities like New York, Washington and San Francisco, most poor places stay poor. Inglewood, CA, however, has recently joined the list of gentrifying cities. For African American residents who have spent decades in the … [Read more...] about Gentrification and its Effects on the Black Community
Black Wealth: The Effects of White Families Accumulating More Wealth than Black Families
Black wealth matters and there is a difference in the wealth that white families accumulate as opposed to their white counterparts. In the midst of the worst global pandemic the world has faced in over a century, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has exploded in America and even spurred similar protests across the globe. The year 2020 will undoubtedly go down in the history books as the year the U.S finally confronted issues related to police brutality, systemic racism, and “white … [Read more...] about Black Wealth: The Effects of White Families Accumulating More Wealth than Black Families
Sager Family Shows Perils of Blended Families
Presented by Attorney Caprice L. Collins Blended families require special planning. Sometimes, the children from the prior marriage bond with the new spouse and the family moves forward in a happy, newly modified form. However, frequently, the new marriage brings conflict between the new spouse and the children of the prior marriage. Such is the case with the Sagers. In 1980, sports reporter Craig Sager married Lisa Gabel. They had three children, Craig, Jr., Kacy, and Krista. But, over … [Read more...] about Sager Family Shows Perils of Blended Families
Celebrating Veterans Day
Each year we celebrate Veterans Day on November 11th in the United States as a way to honor and remember veterans and victims of all wars. The date of November 11th was chosen because that is the day that World War I ended. As we get closer to Veterans Day this year, it seems a good time to discuss veteran benefits. If you are a veteran, a dependent of a veteran, or a surviving spouse of a veteran who gave his/her life for our country, you could be entitled to benefits of which you may be … [Read more...] about Celebrating Veterans Day
Retirement Planning: Look Beyond the Active Years
As estate planning attorneys, we specialize in retirement planning issues. In this post, we will look at some of the issues that retirement planning attorneys routinely address. Long-Term Care When you are planning ahead for the eventualities of aging, you should certainly understand some facts about long-term care. This is the type of care that you would receive in a nursing home or assisted living community. If you work during your life and pay taxes, you will qualify for Medicare when … [Read more...] about Retirement Planning: Look Beyond the Active Years
When Should I Use a California Durable Power of Attorney?
Creating a comprehensive estate plan usually requires you to incorporate estate planning documents and strategies that go beyond just a simple Last Will and Testament. One of the most common additions to an estate plan is a power of attorney. In fact, you may find that you create and execute several different powers of attorney during your lifetime. Unfortunately, the fact that a power of attorney is such a common legal document means that people frequently use a power of attorney without a … [Read more...] about When Should I Use a California Durable Power of Attorney?
Retirement Planning: Look Beyond the Active Years
As elder law attorneys, we specialize in retirement planning issues. In this post, we will look at some of the issues that retirement planning attorneys routinely address. Long-Term Care When you are planning ahead for the eventualities of aging, you should certainly understand some facts about long-term care. This is the type of care that you would receive in a nursing home or assisted living community. If you work during your life and pay taxes, you will qualify for Medicare when you … [Read more...] about Retirement Planning: Look Beyond the Active Years
