The Journal
Plain-English Estate Law
Plain-English guidance on wills, trusts, probate, and protecting your family in California.
Just Won the California Lottery? What to Do Before You Claim
Written by Eric Ridley, California lottery lawyer and estate planning attorney, Ridley Law. Last reviewed September 28, 2026. Sign the back of the ticket, photograph both sides, lock…
Read →Estate Planning in Thousand Oaks: Local Insights
Short answer – Most Thousand Oaks homeowners need a funded revocable living trust, because a house alone usually puts an estate over California’s small estate limit of $208,850…
Read →Navigating Probate Administration in Oxnard: A Step-by-Step Guide
Short answer – Probate for an Oxnard resident runs through the Ventura County Superior Court, because an estate is administered in the county where the decedent lived (Prob.…
Read →Estate Tax Protection for Ventura
Short answer – Most Ventura County families owe no estate tax. California has none, and the federal basic exclusion is $15,000,000 per person for 2026, and a surviving…
Read →Will & Trust Attorney Oxnard & Ventura
Short answer: A will tells the probate court who gets your property and who raises your minor children, but it doesn’t keep your estate out of court. A…
Read →Inventorying Probate Assets CA?
Short answer – In a California probate, the personal representative must file an inventory and appraisal within four months after letters are first issued (Prob. Code §8800). Each…
Read →Thousand Oaks Will Guide 2026: Protect Legacy
Secure your future with a **Thousand Oaks will** in 2026. Control assets, appoint guardians for children, and avoid intestacy. Protect your family. Learn more.
Read →Asset Protection: Ventura Guide 2026
Protect your assets in Ventura County! Discover key asset protection strategies for 2026 against lawsuits, divorce, business debts, and even spendthrift...
Read →Want a straight read on where you stand?
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