The Journal — Plain-English Estate Law
Plain-English guidance on wills, trusts, probate, and protecting your family in California.
How Long Do You Have to Contest a Trust in CA?
The deadline to contest a California trust is short and starts the moment formal notice goes out. Here's what triggers the clock, what pauses it, and what to…
Read →Spendthrift Trusts and Creditor Protection in California
A spendthrift trust doesn't stop a beneficiary from getting into debt. It stops most creditors from reaching into the trust to collect it. Here's where that stops.
Read →Special Needs Trust Administration: Trustee Rules (CA)
Administering a special needs trust means every distribution gets filtered through one question: does this jeopardize public benefits.
Read →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 →Want a straight read on where you stand?
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