Legal fees are often set up in an initial agreement or contract between the client and lawyer. This includes the lawyer’s hour rate and how payments will be made. Because legal fees are a necessary part of bringing a lawsuit with representation, they may also factor into the court’s decision making. Not all lawsuits...

Property may be sold and acquired in a variety of different ways especially based on the type of property it is. One of these forms is a land sale contract. A land sale contract is different from a deed or other traditional instrument of title. Under a land sale contract, the buyer does not...

Contingencies are conditions or requirements included in purchase agreements that must be met before the agreement moves forward. Contingencies are designed to protect the parties’ interests in the transaction by allowing them to back out of deals or renegotiate terms when certain conditions are not satisfied. In California real estate contingencies commonly address financing,...

In end-of-life planning, the person will usually choose who gets what from their assets and property via a trust, insurance policy, or other estate planning tool. The person or persons on the receiving end are called beneficiaries as they benefit from the instrument.  What are the Different Types of Beneficiaries That Exist? A beneficiary...

Usually, a decedent has a valid legal will or estate upon their death which indicates how they want their assets distributed. Intestacy refers to someone who dies without a will. This means how their assets are distributed will be decided by the probate court. The probate process requires the court to determine whether someone...

Under California law, co-owners of property who cannot agree on how to divide or manage their co-owned property have an absolute right to partition, which could result in the property’s forced sale. Generally, partition actions can’t be stopped without a valid waiver, however, co-owners can avoid, and even stop, partition proceedings in some circumstances...

An executor is someone appointed to manage a person’s estate once they pass away and ensure assts and property are given to the appropriate people. Because of the power they have, they must abide by their duties to the estate. Otherwise, they may be liable for their misconduct.  What qualifications must an executor have?...

A self-directed individual retirement account (IRA) is an option as an individual retirement account that allows for more investment options than a traditional IRA-type account. If concerns arise surrounding your IRA, you may need to bring a lawsuit. As an owner or investor in that account you are able to.  What is a self-directed...

1031 exchanges are a real estate tax break that allows commercial property sellers to exchange a business, trade, or investment property for another, like kind, property while deferring capital gains tax on the sale. Without this tax break, sellers must pay capital gains tax at the time of sale. California law does not require...

If you think a trust exists, finding it is important to ensure it is distributed properly. If you are a beneficiary to that trust, it ensures you get your fair share. A trust is unlike a will or other similar document as it does not need to go through the probate process. Because it...