Our blog offers regular updates on post-death administration in California, giving you the information you need to fulfill your duties as trustee. Learn more about the trust and estate administration process from our experienced attorneys.
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Understanding your role as a trustee Perhaps a friend or loved one had enough confidence in you to name you as a trustee in his or her living trust. You may know ... -
If You Have an IRA Inheritance Trust®, Read This! By Phil Kavesh, Attorney Finally, on December 20, the Congress actually passed some important bipartisan ... IRA Inheritance Trust -
This Simple Tool May Change The Quality of Your Life (or of Someone You Know) By Attorney, Philip Kavesh We, our parents and other loved ones are living longer, but does that assure we are living better? ... Long Term Care -
California Conservatorships: What You Need to Know When people think of estate planning, they often think that it's just about the distribution of assets when someone passes ... Conservatorship -
What Happens to Your Living Trust If You Become Disabled? A common question for many people is what happens to your Living Trust (and your assets) if something were to happen to you ... Trustee -
Who Should You Choose to Be Your Successor Trustee? When putting together your Living Trust estate plan, you will be asked to name a Successor Trustee. During your lifetime, you ... Trustee -
The biggest mistakes you could make as an executor If you have been selected as executor of a loved one's estate, it is important to be knowledgeable about your duties and ... -
5 Reasons You May Need to Get Your Living Trust Reviewed So, you had your Living Trust prepared a few years ago. Bravo! You're already a lot further ahead than majority of other ... Estate Plan -
Choosing the right people to make your estate decisions Your estate plan is the result of years of careful, thoughtful and strategic planning. Ultimately, it is meant to give you ... -
The Role of an Estate Administrator As readers of this California estate planning and administration blog may know, it is important that all adults have a basic ... Estate Administration And Probate -
Estate administration and estate planning in California | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. An estate plan is more than the collection of documents that a person executes in order to provide guidance on what they want ... Estate Administration And Probate -
Avoid conflicts in the administration of an estate | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Challenges to estates are common in Hollywood dramas because they make for interesting stories and suspenseful scenarios. ... Estate Administration And Probate -
What traits make for a good executor? | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. During your estate planning, choosing the right executor is a very important and crucial decision. This will be the person ... -
Charitable Remainder Trust Needs to Be Handled Carefully | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Charitable remainder trusts can be a good tool to avoid a steep tax penalty. However, there are some challenges. Charitable ... Estate Planning -
Trustee Needs to Be ... Trustworthy! | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Even if you are confident of the strength of your trust, things can go wrong. Even though multimillionaire Stanley Smith did ... Trusts -
Estate Administrator Sentenced to 7 Years | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. There are many temptations for executors and estate administrators. However, it would be wise to resist them. A judge ... Estate Administration -
Trustee Is Removed but Doesn't Turn over Assets | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Generally, a removed trustee should turn over assets. However, that doesn't always happen. Sometimes it is acceptable for a ... Beneficiaries -
A Trust Isn't Always Accepted as Legitimate | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. London court rules that trusts created by former Russian senator were created to avoid creditors. A court in London has ... Trusts -
Executor Should Aim toward Essentials | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. The job of executor is likely to go more smoothly, if the focus is on basic duties. The Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog ... Estate Attorney -
Executor Acts in the Best Interest of the Estate | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. An executor needs to use best judgement in deciding how to use authority. An executor has considerable discretion in deciding ... Estate Administration -
Movies about Famous People Can Be Challenging | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Michael Jackson's life is featured in some soon-to-be released movies. However, images and music not authorized by the ... Estate Litigation -
Ethics Important when Naming Trustee | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Ethical concerns surface in a Louisiana estate case. Members of a Louisiana family were surprised, when they learned that an ... Elder Law -
Disney to Use Fisher Film Footage in Star Wars IX | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Actress Carrie Fisher to appear in Star Wars IX through the use of previously shot film footage. Carrie Fisher, who passed ... Estate Administration -
Descendants of Peggy Guggenheim Continue Estate Battle | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Foundation receives Guggenheim art collection, but also multiple challenges from family. Vanity Fair recently detailed the ... Estate Administration -
Wyly Estate Fails to Pay Fine | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Executor of estate plan may face contempt charges. Brothers Charles Wyly and Sam Wyly were known to have billions in assets ... Executor -
Courts Can Loosen Restrictions Placed on Trust | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. If court feels the purpose of trust is prevented by restrictions it can make changes. The Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof ... Trusts -
Trustees Have Great Power but Can Be Held Accountable | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Trustees can be held liable for their actions but it can be a tough case to prove. Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog ... Trusts -
Where to Look for an Executor | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. It may be easy for some people to name an executor because the choice is obvious but others may face a challenge. The task of ... Estate Planning -
The Battles Continue in Bobbi Kristina Brown's Estate | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Bobbi Kristina Brown's estate, similar to the estate of her mother Whitney Houston before her, is locked in massive family ... Estate Administration -
It is Possible to Go out of State for an Executor | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Your first choice of an executor may not reside in your state of residence but they can be appointed to the position. ... Estate Planning Attorney -
Former Prosecutor Pleads Guilty in Estate Case | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. A former district attorney has entered a plea of guilty for stealing from an estate. With a record of 20 years as District ... Estate Administration -
Some Pets Left Behind Are Very Wealthy | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Some people may have made their beloved pets extremely wealthy when it came to taking care of them in their estates by ... Estate Planning -
IRS Changes Policy on Identity Theft | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Identity thieves not only steal credit cards in victims' names, they often file fraudulent tax returns in hopes of receiving ... IRA -
The Fate of the Black Widow | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. For a rock star who personified the ethos of the 1960s, how ironic that the estate of Jim Hendrix continues to be embattled ... Estate Planning -
A Checklist for the Executor | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Naming the right person as the executor of your estate is one of the hardest and most important decisions. Knowing what to do ... Estate Planning -
Minor Children and Trusts | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Young children are often the driving force for parents to come to see an estate planner and set up a trust. The concern that ... Estate Planning -
When Your Digital Life Lives on, Long after You Are Gone | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Nearly two-thirds of all Americans have a robust social media life, as well as an average of 25 online accounts, including ... Estate Planning -
Guidelines for the First-Time Executor | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Being an executor of an estate is not an easy task, especially when it is for the first time. When you are named as an ... Asset Protection -
Well-Known Bank Pays $8 Million in Damages after Being Found Guilty of Committing Trustee Fraud | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Many banks and financial services companies offer a variety of services related to creating and managing trusts. When large ... Trusts -
Even the Deceased Can Be Victims of Identity Theft | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Database breaches and hacking attacks haven't just affected millions of living Americans. The identities of more than 2 ... -
To Be or Not To Be a Trustee | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Being asked to serve as trustee of a family member's trust might sound like an honor. It involves stepping into the shoes of ... Trusts -
Should a Person Who Is Not a Family Member Serve as My Trustee? | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Selecting an individual to serve as a trustee is a challenging process, and the usual default is to a family member. But ... Trusts -
Fast & Furious Star Paul Walker's Auto Collection Dispute | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Known for his movies about fast cars, Paul Walker owned a large number of very expensive cars. A lawsuit alleges that a ... Estate Planning -
Washington Post Editor's Watergate Papers Bequeathed to University of Texas | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. The desk-calendar entry for 11:30 a.m. on July 3, 1973, reads simply, "Watergate meeting." It wouldn't be of much ... -
Control of Australia's Rinehart Family Trust Goes to Daughter | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. As Gina Rinehart now knows, you cannot operate trusts solely out of your own self-interest when others are involved, even if ... Trusts -
John Adams' Trust Challenged, but No Legal Action Has Ensued | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Two months ago, a lawyer for a descendant of former President John Adams demanded that a Quincy trust established by Adams ... Charitable Gifting -
Will Your Beneficiary Do the Right Thing ... or Squander Your Money Instead? | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. The United Jewish Appeal claims it was supposed to get the remainder of a trust set up by building mogul Bill Gottlieb, who ... Trusts -
Long Lost Life Insurance Policy? Tips for Tracking It Down | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. If you can't find the life insurance policy of a deceased relative, here's your biggest problem: There's no central, national ... Estate Planning -
Beware - Inheritance Thief! | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. A 'black widow' who married a man on his death bed just eight days before he died has been jailed for stealing his ... uncategorized -
Lawmakers Debate Issue of Digital Privacy after Death | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Does a person's right to privacy extend past death? In this digital age, yes, according to legislation passed by the 2015 ... uncategorized -
Ernie Banks' Estate Administration under Fire for Unpaid Funeral Expenses | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. The funeral home that handled services for Chicago Cubs great Ernie Banks has jumped into the legal battle over the estate of ... uncategorized -
How to Pay Estate Creditors | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. In deciding how best to approach an estate matter, it is important to be aware of how the estate creditors are to be paid. ... uncategorized -
Mom Suspected of Cheating Daughter Out of Trust Fund | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. "I want what's mine," fumed Vanessa Nieves, 21. She learned late last year that her mother, Gloria Torres, ... Estate Planning -
Your Trustee Passed Away - Now What? | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. When a current trustee is unable to serve, the vacancy is filled by a successor trustee. What happens if a trustee is no ... Trusts -
Suspected Misuse of Trust Lands Executor in Court | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. The children of late billionaire Richard Mellon Scaife are accusing their father of misspending a family trust fund-one worth ... Trusts -
IRS Fouls Up, Wants More Money from Michael Jackson's Estate | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. The Internal Revenue Service says it made a mistake in valuing Michael Jackson's estate. Nope, the IRS hasn't abandoned its ... Estate Planning -
Removing Unwanted Trustees | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Choosing a trustee is hard -- but getting rid of one is harder. Beneficiaries who choose to switch trustees can find the ... Trusts -
Deceased's Tax Liabilities Fall on Executor or Executrix | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. The decedent Robert Reitano owned stock in two closely held corporations, each of which owned a fishing boat. His assets ... Estate Planning -
Will Litigation: When Does It End? | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Despite the long history of changes, leading the court to describe Stephen Girard's will as "the most litigated will in ... Trusts -
Can You Trust Your Trustee? | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. JPMorgan Chase and Co. is being sued by a historical local church after the congregation reportedly lost millions. Christ ... Trusts -
Bad Investments Can Mean Trouble For Trustees | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. The trial court held that the trustee of a perpetual charitable trust had breached the duty of prudence by investing the fund ... Trusts -
Pour-Over Will Keeps Buffalo Bills Fans In The Dark | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. When the team's owner died in March, crucial details of his wishes weren't in a will, but in a trust agreement, which is not ... Estate Planning, Trust, Will -
Trust With Strings Attached | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Today, families are trying to fight that deadening of talent with incentive trusts that aim to ensure the next generation ... Estate Tax -
Get Your Will In Order Now To Avoid Conflict Later | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. While battles over image and likeness rights are reserved for the rich and famous, the others are common battle-grounds for ... Estate Planning -
Careless Inheritance Planning May Bolo Financial Aid | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. So often with estate planning, the legal issue is less complicated than the family dynamics at play. We all intend for the ... Estate Planning -
Stewarding An Elderly Loved One's Assets | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Millions of Americans are managing money or property for a loved one who is unable to pay bills or make financial decisions. ... Elder Law -
Using Trust Funds To Purchase A Home | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. As interest rates rise, more children of high-net-worth families are likely to tap into their trust funds to buy a home. ... Estate Planning -
The Estate Called "You" | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. Executors of estates for people who owned small businesses, particularly in service areas like law, accounting or medicine, ... Estate Planning -
When There's No One To Bat For You (Health Care Agents) | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. It's an important question: If you don't have relatives or close friends who can serve as your health care proxy or hold your ... -
Daughter Experiences Estate Plan Nightmare as Executor | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. In hindsight, as mind-numbing and rage-provoking as the last five years have been for me moonlighting as the sole executor of ... Estate Planning -
Estate Executor? Don't Go It Alone! | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. If you have been named the executor of a deceased person's estate, you may find yourself with a job that few people are ... Estate Planning -
Testing Trustee Temperament | The Law Firm of Kavesh, Minor & Otis, Inc. When the distribution request is made at the restaurant, trust officer B describes why she would have some difficulty ... Estate Planning