Estate administration adheres to a specialized and complex area of probate law. Since the financial well-being of those who will inherit is often on the line, both beneficiaries and third parties alike will fight tooth and nail to attain what they believe is an equitable portion of the estate. Since these disputes will often lead to the courtroom, it is essential to have a probate lawyer who is also a trust and estate litigator that can provide you with the expertise you need to handle disputes as well as other issues concerning the estate. In either the trust or probate law process in Los Angeles, numerous issues can arise such as: the validity of the trust or will, the executor, trustee or conservator mismanaging the estate, the validity of other legal documents involved, accounting errors, creditor claims to a portion of the estate, and other variables that can complicate and delay the entire process, not to mention increase costs and reduce the value of the estate. The number of problems that may arise from estate administration can be overwhelming, but with a seasoned Los Angeles probate attorney familiar with litigating trust and probate law issues, you can have the clarity and tools to handle any dispute that arises in the courtroom.
A trust is where an individual, known as a trustee, is legally nominated or appointed to control and manage the assets of another, known as the beneficiary. Trusts are often the most attractive option for estate planning in terms of making sure that families go through less hassle in estate administration and estate distribution than they would during probate in Santa Monica. Routinely, individuals utilize a will together with their trust in order to ensure that every aspect of their estate is taken care of once they have passed. Despite such benefits, trusts are not protected from the possibility of litigation. If the validity of the trust or will is contested, a trustee mismanages the trust estate, the validity of other legal documents is contested, accounting errors are discovered, creditor claims need to be denied, trustees have breached their fiduciary duties, such as committing fiduciary misconduct or fraud, then it is the role of a trust litigation attorney to ensure that they face legal repercussions. Without an expert Santa Monica trust litigation attorney to prosecute these crimes, or defend from false allegation, issues that can arise during trust administration, management or trust estate distribution may produce results that could affect you and your loved ones.
Probate is a source of a headache for many involved with the distribution of an estate in Los Angeles. The probate process is where a court decides both the legal and financial aspects of the decedent’s estate such as real and personal property, other assets, debts and creditor claims, inheritance rights, and the like. One of the aspects of probate that contributes to the lengthy process is the variety of different forms that must be correctly filed and submitted by the executor to ensure that the probate process runs smoothly. Yet, executors are often appointed because they are a loved one of the decedent – not because they know how to do the job. Without the help of a probate litigation attorney, executors may unknowingly violate or break California probate or estate distribution laws, leading to trials and feuds that will unnecessarily lengthen the probate process and make it more costly. Also, beneficiaries may contest the way in which the decedent divided the estate in probate court. With every contest, every beneficiary stands to gain or lose some portion of the estate – leading to heated legal encounters in probate that may cause strife between loved ones. Throughout the probate process, beneficiaries can also come into conflict with the executor and accuse the executor of bias or personal interest in the management of the estate. Without the skill set of a Los Angeles probate litigation attorney, the probate process will cost you time and money that you shouldn’t have to lose.
Financial elder abuse is a crime that exists behind closed doors. Difficult to detect, yet ever present in the lives of loved ones that do not have the power to protect themselves. Even if your loved one denies or cannot express that they have suffered financial elder abuse because of undue influence or incapacity, you have the power to bring the abuser to justice. Criminal or civil financial elder abuse crimes in West Los Angeles can include embezzlement, theft, forgery, or fraud, but generally fall under the umbrella of someone using an elder person’s property for wrongful purposes, usually their own. Prosecuting for financial elder abuse in West Los Angeles requires an experienced attorney that understands capacity and undue influence issues, and can track the legal documents and transactions that can indicate how a caretaker (or close family member) has taken advantage of your loved one. If you have been wrongly accused, you will also need to undergo an investigation to verify that the transactions and legal documents were not the results of undue influence, incapacity, or some other wrongful act such as forgery. With a financial elder abuse attorney, you can make sure that your loved one will always be protected.
Wrongful business practices can have lasting financial consequences on your livelihood as well as the financial and emotional security of your loved ones. Some of the many issues that will require businesses to enter the courtroom in Orange County are contract disputes, shareholder derivative lawsuits, trade secret and intellectual property litigation, non-competes, labor and employment litigation, breach of employment contract litigation, and other issues that will require compensation by the party that has been treated unlawfully. Since these cases are often knee-deep in financial and legal documentation, it is easy to become overwhelmed and discouraged when you initiate or are served with a complaint, not to mention with the upcoming trial you may be facing. Keep in mind: you do not have to suffer alone or be uninformed. With an Orange County business litigation lawyer, you and your attorney can carefully comb through the minute aspects of your case to understand the ways in which the opposing party has breached their contract or committed an unlawful act that requires compensation or vindicates you. And in the chaos of the courtroom – remember that you have nothing to fear. By having the tools and experiences of an accomplished business litigation attorney at your disposal, you will be able to protect yourself and your loved ones from wrongful business practices or against unmeritorious claims. RMO provides invaluable, efficient and cost-effective legal services in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Irvine, West Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Bernardino, Riverside, Palm Springs, Ventura, Oakland and San Francisco, as well as the surrounding Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, Alameda, San Francisco and Ventura communities.
