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Anyone can Draft their own Will

Under California law, anyone can draft their own will, which is acceptable. However, if you choose not to draft your own will, it is crucial to understand that only an attorney is legally permitted to draft a will for someone else.Do It YourselfDrafting your own will can be risky because personally...

  • By Bernie Stephan
  • Dec 9, 2025
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Trust v Will when Selling a Home

In California, selling a property differs significantly depending on whether the property is part of a will going through probate or is held in a living trust.Property in a Will (Probate Process)1. Court Supervision: The property sale in probate requires court supervision. The estate executor must o...

  • By Bernie Stephan
  • Dec 9, 2025
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An Unspoken Rite of Financial Passage

Certain events in a person’s life qualify as “financial rites of passage”: obtaining your first credit card, buying a house, combining finances with a significant other, retirement, estate planning, and so forth.Dealing with the death of a parent … or of any loved one … is life’s “unspoken rite of f...

  • By Bernie Stephan
  • Dec 9, 2025
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Who Can File for Probate

In California, the probate process is a legal procedure for settling a deceased person’s estate. The court oversees the distribution of assets to ensure that debts are paid and the remaining assets are distributed according to the decedent’s will or state law if there is no will.​Who Can File for Pr...

  • By Bernie Stephan
  • Dec 8, 2025
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Living Trusts with Homes

Understanding Living Trusts for Real Estate: A Guide for HomeownersAs a homeowner, managing your assets effectively is crucial for planning your estate, and one valuable tool at your disposal is a living trust. This legal arrangement can significantly impact how your real estate is handled in the fu...

  • By Bernie Stephan
  • Dec 8, 2025