The Journal — Plain-English Estate Law
Plain-English guidance on wills, trusts, probate, and protecting your family in California.
Signs a Trust Was Changed Under Duress in California
A trust changed under pressure, isolation, or fear doesn't reflect free will, and California courts don't require proof of an explicit threat to see it. Here's what to…
Read →Selling Trust Property in California
Most successor trustees can sell trust property without a judge's permission. The trust document gives that authority, but the duties around how you sell still apply.
Read →Reserve for Taxes Before Final Distribution
Beneficiaries want everything now. The IRS doesn't care. A trustee who distributes every dollar before taxes are settled can end up paying the difference personally.
Read →Reforming a Trust for Tax Purposes in California
A drafting error can quietly cost a family its stepped-up basis or marital deduction. Reformation corrects the document to match what the settlor actually meant.
Read →QTIP Trust Administration After the First Spouse Dies (CA)
A QTIP trust protects a blended family's plan, but only if the trustee handles the notice, income, and tax duties correctly from day one.
Read →Prop 19 Implications When Selling Inherited Property
If you're selling an inherited home rather than keeping it, most of Prop 19's reassessment rules don't apply to you. What still matters is timing and basis.
Read →Prop 19 Parent-Child Exclusion: The Two Requirements That Matter
Prop 19 replaced the old, broad parent-child exclusion with a narrow one. Two requirements decide whether an inherited house keeps a parent's property tax base.
Read →Probate Code § 850 Petition: Full Scope in California
A § 850 petition covers a lot more ground than the Heggstad house scenario. Here's every kind of ownership dispute it can resolve.
Read →Want a straight read on where you stand?
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