PARENTS & HOMEOWNERS: MY 7-STEP ESTATE PLANNING PROCESS WILL PROTECT YOUR HEIRS
From Creditors, Predators & Bad Choices, And Will Help You Become a (Bigger) Hero to Your Family!
What You Need to Know About Wills and Trusts
What Are Wills and Trusts? Wills and trusts are two cornerstone tools of estate planning, designed to ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes after your death. A will is a legal document that outlines how your property and assets should be distributed, names beneficiaries, and can even appoint guardians for minor…
How to Effectively Communicate Your Estate Plan to Your Family
How to Effectively Communicate Your Estate Plan to Your Family Planning for the future is a crucial step in ensuring that your loved ones are taken care of, but it’s only half the battle. The other half is effectively communicating your estate plan to your family. While this conversation might feel daunting, it is essential…
Estate Planning for Singles in California: 2025 Essential Guide
Estate planning sounds like something only wealthy families or retirees need to think about in California. Think again. Nearly half of single adults in the state do not have any estate plan on record, putting their autonomy and financial wishes at risk. Most people expect the law will just sort things out, but that rarely…
How to Avoid Probate in California: A Comprehensive Guide
Probate is often a long, costly process that families might not anticipate until they find themselves in the midst of it. In simple terms, probate is the legal process of transferring a deceased person’s assets to their heirs. It includes filing the will, settling debts, and distributing assets, but it can take over a year…
DIY Estate Planning: Pros and Cons
DIY Estate Planning: Pros and Cons Estate planning might sound like something only the super-wealthy need to worry about, but in reality, it’s a crucial step in ensuring your assets are handled according to your wishes after you’re gone. With the rise of online tools and resources, many people are considering a DIY approach to…
When Do You Need a Pour-Over Will?
People often consider making revocable living trusts to avoid an arduous, costly probate process for their beneficiaries. Instead, the ownership of assets in the trust passes relatively simply to a successor trustee. Occasionally, someone may pass away before successfully placing all their assets that they intend for a successor trustee to inherit into their living…
Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples: Protecting Your Partner
Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples: Protecting Your Partner In today’s world, relationships come in all shapes and sizes. Many couples choose to share their lives without the formalities of marriage. While this decision works beautifully for many, it does pose unique challenges, especially when it comes to estate planning. Ensuring that your partner is protected…
Estate Planning for Parents in California: Protecting Wealth in 2025
Estate planning sounds complicated, but for California parents, it means protecting your children and your life’s work. Here’s what jumps out right away. California now allows primary residences worth up to 750000 dollars to transfer to heirs without probate starting April 2025. Surprised? Most people picture estate planning as a tool for the ultra-rich, but…
California’s Probate Process: A Guide for Beginners
California’s Probate Process: A Guide for Beginners Welcome to the whirlwind world of probate! 🤔 If you’re stepping into California’s probate process for the first time, you might feel a bit overwhelmed. But fear not—this guide is here to help you navigate the twists and turns smoothly. We’ll break down everything you need to know,…
Why Hire an Estate Planning Attorney in California 2025
Thinking a simple will covers your estate in California is a common belief, but the facts tell a different story. California’s probate process can last from six months to several years, which shocks most families only after costly delays hit. Here’s the twist. DIY documents and one-size-fits-all forms often fail to protect your loved ones…
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Mr. Ridley is just fantastic. He is knowledgable, attentive, honest and was very patient with my many many questions about my legal situation. I am especially appreciative that he helped me to understand that my situation had a resolution in s(...)
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Eric did an excellent job creating our Living Trust. His work was very detailed and thorough, and at a very reasonable cost. I could reach him easily to discuss concerns or questions, and he offered great advice. His depth and e(...)
Favorite Lawyer of All Time
Eric Ridley has to be my favorite Lawyer of all time. He helped me out tremendously being the executor of a family trust. I would give him 10 out of 10 no doubt! He did such a good job for me that I recommended him t(...)
