How to Compel a Trustee to Do Their Job
When dealing with a trustee who won’t do their job, compelling them via court order has been the traditional route for recourse. But even if you expect litigation to go in your favor, it’s important to take the proper steps to ensure the trust itself remains unscathed. Trustees are required to follow the direction of […]
Who Will Inherit Your Digital Footprint?
The laws surrounding the question remain surprisingly unclear. Have you thought about who will inherit access to your digital footprint, from emails to bank and social media accounts and everything in between, after you pass away? It’s worth considering, given the laws governing post-death digital assets access remain surprisingly limited and murky. Digital assets – […]
“She’s Laughing Up at Us from Hell:” What Lessons About Estate Planning We Can Take from Taylor Swift’s Anti-Hero
In 2006, Taylor Swift burst onto the music scene with her breakout country single, Tim McGraw. Nearly 20 years, 10 albums, and 51 million record sales later[1], she has become a household name. Taylor Swift is also no stranger to the legal field. From her sexual assault countersuit against D.J. David Mueller in which she […]
The Abuse of Anti-SLAPP Motions in Probate and Civil Matters
Litigants are still finding new applications for California’s powerful (and sometimes infamous) anti-SLAPP statute in civil matters, and as evidenced by the recently resolved Starr v. Ashbrook, probate courts are no exception. The case revolved around a contentious estate battle between the children of a 90-year-old Laguna Beach man and his girlfriend and trustee. The […]
Does A Prenuptial Agreement Override A Will
Premarital agreements increasingly have become commonplace in modern marriages. A 2022 poll by Harris Insights & Analytics found that 15 percent of married respondents reported having a premarital agreement, up from 3 percent in 2010.
Do You Pay Taxes on Inherited Art?
Inheriting a valuable piece of art can feel like a fantastic gift. But if you’ve recently inherited a loved one’s art collection, you may be wondering what happens when it comes to taxes. In general, you will not have to pay taxes on art you inherit from a loved one. However, if you sell the […]