A couple in their 50’s recently came in to our Oakland office wanting to get more information about Guardianship. They had been intermittently caring for their two grandsons, 8 and 9, since they were babies. Their daughter, the boys’ mother, had substance abuse problems; the boys had different fathers, and...
A couple, John and Joan, came into our Walnut Creek office to change the vesting on a deed. Vesting is the manner in which you hold title to your real estate as reflected on your deed. Proper vesting is required every time you file a deed, and includes Sole Ownership, Joint...
It’s been more than six months since Robin Williams’ tragic death. We were shocked and saddened by his suicide—we expect our public figures to be living happy, charmed lives, not to be suffering from anxiety and depression. We remember Williams for his incredible range and endurance—he kept us entertained for...
We assist a lot of our clients with their Living Trusts. Many people don’t realize it’s not enough to create one—it has to be funded—and just as important—updated when there are important life events. One recent client was referred to us by her realtor—she is trying to sell her property,...
Kathleen joined the California Document Preparers’ Walnut Creek team in 2008, when the youngest of her three daughters left for college. “I was lucky enough to stay at home while my kids were growing up, but when my youngest left, I began looking for something to do besides tennis, hiking...
Many people come in to our offices this time of year to create Living Trusts. We include two other end-of-life documents in the Living Trust package--a Financial Power of Attorney and an Advance HealthCare Directive, naming someone to act on their behalf in the event they become unable to make...
This is the time of year when people are most likely to follow through on their New Year’s resolutions, and for many people that means creating a Living Trust. One couple who came in to our Oakland office in early January to create a Living Trust was motivated by the...
The time of year for new beginnings With the improved economy, many people are finding that the time is right to start their own businesses. There are myriad decisions, including identifying a company name and business entity, or structure. A corporate or LLC-type business entity is separate and distinct from its...
Happily, this is the time of year when many people follow through on their New Year’s resolutions and come in to our offices to prepare Living Trusts. In a Living Trust you identify those to whom you want to leave your property as well as a “Successor Trustee”--the person who...
You may be one of these couples—or you probably know one—trying to make it work for the kids. But the constant bickering and tension create an environment that's not healthy for any family. The holidays and their added stress and emotion often bring out the worst in relationships, and many couples...
We recently worked with a man from Orinda who owned a home with his mother. The title was in both of their names, and they thought they were joint tenants, but this was not stated on the deed. As joint owners, it was always their assumption that when the mother...
We’ve gotten a few calls from clients in our Oakland office wanting to know if we’ve moved And the answer is no, we’re still in the same location--244 Grand Avenue--the same address we’ve had since we opened our door in 2006. It’s been eight years since we opened this third California...
