Category Archives: Probate & Trust Administration

Content related to probate and trusts in California.

How Does an Adult Child Navigate Their Parents’ Estate Plan?

Family, senior parents and woman by pool holding with care, love and hug bonding outdoor. Smile, happy person and people in retirement with adult daughter together with bokeh in nature in summer. SSUCv3H4sIAAAAAAAAA22S227sIAxF/4XneSAZMprOr1RHR+aSCSrgCJy2aTX/XgORei5929vC28tOPoWG4o24fQofwlYoA3lM4iZPIrtkXW7yNZ8vsilnPWH2EJrTQGZJEJ24ibIg0u/rMFzUJB4nUQhoK65wNjsD5O7c2Pz3UC5zq+DXm66CX8of64/KExy0wGfh5uFpmmZpFL9RyszSKjOe2ZzHixqV0VfNRkqltJzsdRK/TuLljVyOBxBs1mOXa/bGp3s3SEtdujHzPTBWnLJsxL1szUv1/QoJydG+8vIDg86G4dIWdW0XwzheBzmpRl4flr6P5Tscm7X7LJ5D894HtnxvD8JtDQiWKqQAi9od4+uwv3i4YLODWMjHDgMB4t6U252LTUUstC5IWJrdYY/eZGxmxWSnpgwG3LLG916HVM8ReV/oc9yKxf+Zo/29YbRSjwh+tQ5CvUPN8O8EB0H9t/grRpeodxtI/3SX/0sfiAl6mPWlYHjtWw7jOc+sHo8voE3K58cCAAA=

Helping Your Parents Plan Before a Crisis: An Adult Child Legal Survival Guide Many an adult child fails to consider that they may one day become caregivers. One day, Mom and Dad are living independently, managing their finances, and making their own medical decisions. Then, almost overnight, a fall, a stroke, a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s […]

Avoiding Probate in California

Wooden blocks spell the word AVOID. A small plant sits on the left side of the frame. This image represents caution, risk or making a choice to not do something.

How Proper Planning Can Protect Your Family and Your Home If you own real estate in California, proper estate planning is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family. Without the right planning in place, your home and other assets may be subject to probate, a court-supervised process that can […]

2026 Medi-Cal Tsunami

Health policy and insurance enrollment for healthcare coverage. Concept Health Policy, Insurance Enrollment, Healthcare Coverage, Medical Benefits, Affordable Plans

The Power to “De-Fund” the Trust: In some cases, the best strategy might be to pull assets out of your own trust and move them elsewhere. A standard trust is designed to hold assets, not give them away. Your trustee needs the specific power to do this for asset protection purposes.

Avoid Probate for Your Home

Home with "Estate in Probate" sign in front yard, delay due to poor planning, copy space for text, ultra HD --ar 16:9 --v 7 Job ID: bd60022f-abf0-40d1-95c3-e8eb07146f27

I’m Michael J. Young, an estate and long-term care planning attorney, and I witness this struggle far too often. My mission involves helping families navigate the complexities of estate planning, ensuring they protect their assets and their loved ones from unnecessary legal battles and financial drains. Today, I want to share crucial insights about one of the most common and easily avoidable pitfalls: probate for your home.

Peace During Probate

white dove or white pigeon carrying olive leaf branch on pastel background and clipping path and international day of peace

Can you achieve peace during probate? When Jennifer M. lost her father, it was heartbreaking. But just six months later, the death of her mother upended her life. Their family home in Walnut Creek — the place where she grew up, celebrated birthdays, and decorated the same old tree every Christmas — suddenly sat silent, full of memories but tangled in legal uncertainty

California Probate: Navigating the Labyrinth

California Probate. Vintage brush script. Handmade font. Retro Typeface. Vector font illustration.

Probate is not a quick process. In California, it can take anywhere from several months to over a year, depending on the complexity of the estate and the court’s workload. Handling probate independently means dedicating a significant amount of time to manage all aspects of the process.

California Probate & Peace of Mind

By entrusting the legal aspects of probate to a qualified attorney, you gain peace of mind knowing that the process is being handled professionally and efficiently. You can have confidence that your loved one’s wishes will be honored and that your interests are fully protected.

What is Probate Court?

Assets held in “Joint Tenancy” should not require a probate. For instance, the title can be held by two individuals “as joint tenants.”