The Journal
Plain-English Estate Law
Plain-English guidance on wills, trusts, probate, and protecting your family in California.
How to Keep SSI and Medi-Cal After a Personal Injury Settlement in California
A personal injury settlement can end SSI and Medi-Cal eligibility within weeks. SSI counts a settlement as income in the month it arrives and as a resource on…
Read →Full vs. Limited Authority Under the IAEA in California Probate
Under California’s Independent Administration of Estates Act, full authority and limited authority differ only on real estate. A personal representative with full authority can sell, exchange, grant an…
Read →California’s Biggest Lottery Jackpots, and What the Winners’ Claims Show
Written by Eric Ridley, California lottery lawyer and estate planning attorney, Ridley Law. Last reviewed September 28, 2026. I count 23 California-sold Powerball and Mega Millions jackpot tickets…
Read →California Lottery Pool Agreement, With a Free Sample
Written by Eric Ridley, California lottery lawyer and estate planning attorney, Ridley Law. Last reviewed September 28, 2026. Lottery pools are legal in California, and an oral pool…
Read →Lottery Winnings and Divorce in California
Written by Eric Ridley, California lottery lawyer and estate planning attorney, Ridley Law. Last reviewed September 28, 2026. In California, a lottery ticket bought during the marriage with…
Read →California Lottery Lawyer: Estate Planning for Lottery Winners
Written by Eric Ridley, California lottery lawyer and estate planning attorney, Ridley Law. Last reviewed September 28, 2026. I’m a California lottery lawyer, which in practice means an…
Read →California Lottery Tax Calculator: Cash Option vs. Annuity, After Tax
Written by Eric Ridley, California lottery lawyer and estate planning attorney, Ridley Law. Last reviewed September 28, 2026. A California resident who wins on a ticket bought in…
Read →How Lottery Winnings Are Taxed in California (2026)
Written by Eric Ridley, California lottery lawyer and estate planning attorney, Ridley Law. Last reviewed September 28, 2026. California doesn’t tax a prize from the California Lottery, including…
Read →Want a straight read on where you stand?
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