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!

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The Advantages of Bankruptcy over Debt Settlement

By Estate Planning Attorney Eric Ridley | Nov 19, 2022

Debt settlement, or debt consolidation, can be achieved through a loan that covers the debt. In most cases, you can work with a credit company that will negotiate your debts down and lumps them all together so that you can make one payment moving forward. The interest rates are usually considerably lower, and your existing…

What Is Probate Administration?

By Estate Planning Attorney Eric Ridley | Jul 27, 2022

When someone dies, that person’s legal and financial affairs need to be settled legally. The process of doing so is probate administration. This process could include collecting property, filing taxes, paying off loans, or allocating any property that the deceased (referred to in probate as the “decedent”) still owned. Probate is required if the value…

What Are The Benefits of an Estate Plan?

By Estate Planning Attorney Eric Ridley | Jul 21, 2022

To some, estate planning may seem like something for individuals in higher tax brackets. The idea may conjure up images from black and white movies of a stuffy lawyer in a mansion’s study, divvying out untold millions to scandalous heirs and devious distant cousins. But you don’t have to be William Randolph Hearst to prepare…

When is Probate Required in California?

By Estate Planning Attorney Eric Ridley | Jul 16, 2022

If a person dies and leaves behind an estate, property, or assets in California that needs to be transferred to a beneficiary, probate is required. If a decedent’s property is left behind, the probate process provides distribution of that property to the heirs of the decedent. Survivors may also open probate proceedings if the decedent…

What is the Difference Between a Living Will and an Advance Healthcare Directive? 

By Estate Planning Attorney Eric Ridley | Jul 11, 2022

Maybe you have spent time in the medical field or have begun planning your own wishes regarding the future of your medical care. If so, you are probably familiar with the terms “living will” or “advance healthcare directive.” But what, specifically, are they? How do they differ from each other? And most importantly, how do…

What are the Benefits of Bankruptcy?

By Estate Planning Attorney Eric Ridley | Jul 5, 2022

You probably remember watching Wheel of Fortune as a kid: the wheel would land on that evil-looking, black BANKRUPT section, a terrifying noise would play, and everyone from Vanna White to the audience members would look sorry for the contestant who just lost all of the money they had built up on that round. Bankruptcy…

Can I Convert My Chapter 13 Bankruptcy to a Chapter 7?

By Estate Planning Attorney Eric Ridley | Jun 30, 2022

Some people facing foreclosure because they are behind on payments take a chapter 13 bankruptcy to reorganize debts and loans over a three-to-five-year period. However, situations change every day. Those that have chosen to file for chapter 13 bankruptcy may find themselves in a situation where chapter 7 benefits them more. Can they convert chapter…

What is the Difference Between Power of Attorney and Conservatorship?

By Estate Planning Attorney Eric Ridley | Jun 24, 2022

Certain situations may arise in anyone’s lifetime that leaves them unable to make personal or financial decisions for themselves. They may become incapacitated due to a medical condition that has rendered them unable to make their own choices. This type of circumstance often occurs in the case of an aging family member. When this happens,…

How Long Can Bankruptcy Stay on Your Credit Report in California?

By Estate Planning Attorney Eric Ridley | Jun 18, 2022

Bankruptcy is a viable option that helps hundreds of thousands of Americans each year put their heads above water after drowning in debt. However, once a person files for bankruptcy, it can wreak havoc on their credit report. Even after recovering financially, a person may try to buy a car or take out a loan…

How Do I Avoid Probate Court in California?

By Estate Planning Attorney Eric Ridley | Jun 10, 2022

Probate is a formal process to settle a person’s estate when they pass, whether or not there is a will. Since probate is supervised by the deceased’s residential county probate court, that county’s law ultimately decides who receives the money or property of the deceased. If a will is in place, the county ensures that…

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