Our blog offers regular updates on probate administration in California, giving you the information you need to close a loved one's estate. Learn more about the California probate and estate administration process from our experienced attorneys.
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Lessons from Kobe On January 26th, the world was shocked by the sudden and tragic passing of basketball legend, Kobe Bryant. Add to that ... Current Events -
Supreme Court undertakes review of trust taxation case The laws surrounding estate planning can be complex and are ever-changing. One of the ways that the laws that affect ... Estate Planning -
3 common mistakes that may delay the probate process | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Creating a will is an important step in planning for the future of your estate and family after you're gone. A well-crafted, ... Probate -
What is the purpose of probate in California? | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. There are certain words in the English language that inspire confusion in those who hear them. One of those words is probate. ... Estate Administration And Probate -
Aretha Franklin left behind a great legacy, but no will. | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. When Aretha Franklin passed away earlier this year, the world lost one of the most iconic soul singers of our time. The Queen ... -
How will probate affect my family? | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. No one enjoys thinking about what will happen in the event they pass away. Death can be a scary thought and it's emotionally ... -
3 common mistakes that may delay the probate process Creating a will is an important step in planning for the future of your estate and family after you're gone. A well-crafted, ... -
John Mahoney Left Behind $5 Million and Many Heirs | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Court lists 38 friends and relatives as potential beneficiaries to actor's estate. A friend of John Mahoney, who passed away ... Estate Administration -
More Lawsuits Loom over Harper Lee's Estate | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Harper Lee's life was private, but her estate is drawing a lot of interest as well as lawsuits. The estate of Harper Lee, who ... Estate Litigation -
Benson's Will: Who Is In and Who Is Out? | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Will reveals that he was not happy with his daughter and her children. Tom Benson, the wealthy owner of the New Orleans ... Estate Plan -
What Type of Estates are Likely to Face Litigation? | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Experts predict the kind of estates that will face litigation. Family grievances are a key issue. It is interesting to ... Estate Litigation -
Court to Determine Fate of Las Vegas Shooter's Estate | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. The potential high number of claims against the Las Vegas shooter's estate, has the court worried that there will not be ... Estate Administration -
Charles Manson's Body Still on Ice | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Officials in California would like to dispose of Charles Manson's remains as quickly as possible, but they are not sure who ... Estate Administration -
David Cassidy's Estate Faces Past Legal Bills | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Entertainer left behind $150,000 in assets but there were suits filed against it. Entertainer David Cassidy filed for ... Estate Administration -
Glen Campbell's Estate Faces Possible Challenges | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Campbell had eight children but left three out of his will. Glen Campbell drafted his will in 2006 and explicitly cut out the ... Estate Litigation -
Where Is Aaron Hernandez's $9 Million? | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Hernandez put millions of dollars in an irrevocable trust. It appears that Aaron Hernandez, who committed suicide while in ... Estate Litigation -
Shooter's Estate Will Be Tied Up for a Long Time | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. The family of the man who killed concert goers in Las Vegas and the victims of the tragedy are likely to square off over $5 ... Estate Administration -
Another Celebrity Estate Battle Looms | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Celebrity's son claims his son is attempting to cheat him out of his proper share of legacy. The late poet Maya Angelou, who ... Estate Litigation -
Battle over Tompkins Estate Moves to Chile | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Daughter of founder of Esprit and North Face loses in California. Douglas Tompkins, who founded Esprit and North Face, and ... Estate Litigation -
The Widow of Alan Thicke Wins First Round | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Disagreement between stepparents and stepchildren isn't unusual. However, the fight over Thicke's estate is taking ... Estate Litigation -
Do Not Avoid Probate by Gifting House to Children | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Avoiding probate is a good idea, but not at the cost of losing your home. There are better ways to avoid probate than giving ... Estate Planning -
Slayer Statutes are Sometimes Difficult to Enforce | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. The real challenge is finding out who is responsible for the death and will they benefit from the death. Most states have ... Estate Administration -
Michigan Accepts Unsigned Will into Probate | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. An appellate court in Michigan overturns precedent and rules signature is not needed. For centuries, courts have required a ... Estate Planning -
Is There a Conflict in Thicke Estate? | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Judge asked to decide if there really is a conflict. A prenuptial agreement would lead one to think the settlement of the ... Estate Litigation -
Carrie Fisher Leaves Trust, but Probate May Be Necessary | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. The sole daughter of the actress is the only beneficiary of estate but all of the assets not included in trust. Carrie ... Estate Administration -
A 'Real Housewives' Has a Real Battle | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Television reality entertainer claims that her stepchildren are trying to take her home from her. Alexia Echevarria, one of ... Estate Planning -
Prince's Estate Is Awash in Controversy | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Sometimes a good example can tell you what not to do. People often do not get an estate plan because of the cost. However, ... Estate Administration -
Media Calculations See Prince's Estate at $200 Million | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Court documents give reporters insight into estate's value Following calculations made by experienced journalists, the total ... Estate Administration -
Woman Claiming to Be Prince's Wife Steps Forward | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Wife' says she has marriage license and a will. The fervor caused by people claiming to be heirs of Prince has died down. ... Estate Administration -
Prince Estate Becomes More Complex in Identifying Heirs | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. State law may broaden definition of heirs to entertainer's estate. The list of potential heirs to Prince's estate has been ... Estate Planning -
Despite False DNA Report 'Daughter' Receives Millions | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Even though the DNA sample submitted was false, casino owner's estate pays out millions to woman. The estate of casino owner ... Inheritance -
Prince May Have Had a Son but Results of DNA Test Sealed | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Paper claims that DNA test proves Prince had a son. The Santa Monica Observer claims that DNA testing proves Prince had a son ... Probate -
Most of claims by Prince's 'Heirs' are Rejected | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Stakes are high in inheritance of Prince's fortune and many have stepped forward to make claims. Most of the claims to be ... Estate Planning -
Woman Pays for Exerting Undue Influence | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. That someone has used undue influence to pressure an elderly person into changing their will is very difficult to prove, so ... Will -
Prince Heirs Continue to Show Up | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Two more people come forward claiming to be heirs of entertainer Prince. Just as it was predicted when it was learned that ... Estate Planning -
Louisiana Estate Case Results in Charges against Attorney | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. A child custody battle that resulted in a bitter feud has resulted in one attorney being charged with theft and falsifying a ... Estate Planning -
The Red Duchess' Effort to Deny Her Children Their Family Legacy | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. The Duchess of Medina Sidonia was clearly not centered around her children. She feuded with them while she was alive and ... Estate Planning -
What Is Unethical, What is Immoral and What Is Just Plain Wrong? | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. One can only hope that this decision by an appellate court in Michigan does not reflect a slippery slope of decisions. At its ... Estate Planning -
When Wills are Not Finalized, Final Wishes Do Not Always Get Carried Out | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. According to a homeless man in New York City, the executor of his long-standing friend and host is refusing to give him his ... Inheritance -
Estate Planning Keeps Your Life Private by Steering Clear of Probate | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Among the many benefits of having a well-designed estate plan is making the process of administering your estate much less of ... Asset Protection -
Will Slayer Rule Prevail in Missouri? | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. An argument is being made that the "slayer" rule - which says you can't murder someone and then inherit their money ... Estate Planning -
Even Still, Estate Disputes Continue for Robin Williams' Family | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. A more precise estate plan may have saved the family of Robin Williams from their last round of court appearances to finally ... Estate Planning -
Estate Battles of the Rich and Famous | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. BBC News takes a look at some of the more dramatic feuds that have taken place over the wills and legacies of well-known ... Estate Planning -
Late Art Collector Leaves $100,000 Tip, Boyfriend Contesting Will | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. The long-time boyfriend of a filthy rich art collector who left $100,000 to two waitresses is fighting to get himself a much ... Trusts -
5 Probate Avoidance Tips for Business Owners | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. If you've been in business for long, chances are you've heard at least a few tales of probate problems plaguing family ... Business -
Inheritance-Stealing Granny | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Probate courts generate plenty of stories about bad guardians, people appointed by a court to look after a ward's well-being ... Estate Planning -
Avoiding Probate When Real Estate Is in the Mix | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. What has been missing for so long is a means of transferring real estate in a simple, probate-free process. In about half the ... Probate -
Conflict of Interest Causes Attorney to Withdraw from Estate Case | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Just five days after Breen was shot, attorneys working for Kacie Breen filed a motion in state district court in Covington to ... Estate Planning -
Dispute over Ernie Banks' Will | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. A dispute between the family of Ernie Banks and the woman who cared for him during his final years intensified Monday with ... Will -
Court Battle Heats Up over Robin Williams' Estate | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Robin Williams' children and wife have gone to court in a fight over the late comedian's estate. In papers filed in December ... Trusts -
Estate Battle over Martin Luther King's Bible and Nobel Prize | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. The legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. seems to be everywhere these days with the success of the film ... Estate Planning -
Superman Publisher's Widow May Have Been Conned, Estate Disputed | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Two real-life Lex Luthors took advantage of the elderly widow of the DC Comics publisher who brought Superman to news stands ... -
Beat Style Author's Estate Faces Dispute Involving Literary Letter | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. The one-month custody battle over a long-lost letter to Beat generation author Jack Kerouac from his driving character, Neal ... Estate Planning -
Suspicious Death, Love Triangle, and a Million Dollar Estate Battle | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Since last summer, investigators have been trying to answer a puzzling question: Who killed Sarah Long, who was found dead of ... Probate -
Beware of Embezzling Attorneys | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. A prominent Staten Island attorney has been accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from five clients, according ... Estate Planning -
Bob Hoskins' Estate Details Revealed in Probate | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. The year 2014 will be remembered for many things, to include celebrity deaths. The details of another celebrity's estate have ... Estate Planning -
Estate Battles - Pirates Aren't the Only Ones Dealing with Lost Treasure | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. A New York City landlord told his siblings, on his deathbed, that he hid $4.5m worth of silver bullion and gold krugerrands - ... Estate Planning -
Estate of Fugitive with Double Life Being Challenged by Victim's Family | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. No one - not Florida investigators, court officials, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections or the FBI - ever notified the ... -
Supposed Billionaire Dies Penniless: Irony or Foul Play? | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Probate records reveal that he died without a will and left an estate valued at 'nil' in England and Wales. It is not known ... Estate Planning -
New Hampshire's New Law Allows Probating a Will Before You Pass | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. "I saw an alarming increase in the number of probate and trust litigation cases. It was just devastating families, and ... Probate -
Estate Litigation on the Rise as Families Drift Apart? | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Some attorneys and judges believe that as the Baby Boom generation ages there will be an increase in the number of probate ... Probate -
Kids - What If You Don't Get The Inheritance You Were Expecting? | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. If you are expecting an outright inheritance, you may need to think again. Expecting a sizeable inheritance? A recent Forbes ... Estate Planning -
IRS Sets Value Of Michael Jackson's Image Documents recently released in litigation between the estate of pop star Michael Jackson and the IRS showed that a large ... Estate Planning -
Titling Assets to Avoid Probate | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Earlier in my career, I saw estate plans consisting of a set of documents drawn and signed, and that was it. There was no ... Estate Planning -
Don't "Escheat" Your Family Inheritance | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Nearly 2.5 million Americans died last year, many without signing a will. One of them was apparently Roman Blum, a Holocaust ... Estate Planning -
Family Feud Threatens Four Generation Family Business | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Family businesses can be quite successful, he said, but the managing and intermingling of blood and commerce, insiders and ... Business -
The Perils of Joint Tenancy In Los Angeles and Orange County | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Eliminating the need for probate is a goal for many clients. Joint tenancy, a form of co-ownership, is one tool that can ... Estate Planning