The Journal
Plain-English Estate Law
Plain-English guidance on wills, trusts, probate, and protecting your family in California.
Is a Handwritten (Holographic) Will Valid in California?
Learn about CA handwritten wills in 2026. Discover the legal requirements for holographic wills in California and if they're right for you. Get started today.
Read →Estate Planning: Single Parents
Short answer: For a California single parent, the document that matters most is a will that nominates a guardian for your children, because that is not something a…
Read →Revocable Trusts: Flexibility and Control in Estate Planning
Short answer: A revocable living trust lets you keep full control over your assets while you are alive, change or cancel it whenever you want, and, once it…
Read →Estate Planning 2026: Protect Your Kids
Protect your children's inheritance with estate planning in 2026. Avoid accidental disinheritance in second marriages. Discover how a QTIP trust works....
Read →Avoiding Probate in California: Strategies for Families (2026)
The most complete way to avoid California probate is a fully funded revocable living trust, which holds title so nothing passes through the court after death. California also…
Read →Avoid These Estate Planning Blunders: A Guide to Securing Your Legacy
Avoid estate planning blunders that threaten your legacy in 2026. Protect your assets and secure your family's future with attorney Eric Ridley. Get started.
Read →2026: Estate Planning Attorney Questions
Ask 2026 estate planning attorney questions to protect your family's future! Explore wills, trusts, probate, taxes, compensation, and legal guardianship....
Read →Springing Power of Attorney: Protect Your Family in California
Learn how a springing power of attorney helps California families and high-net-worth individuals protect their assets and loved ones during incapacity.
Read →Want a straight read on where you stand?
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