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Methods to Avoid Probate

Things Celebrities Wish They Knew About Estate Planning and Mental Health

It cannot be stressed enough: The importance of proactive estate planning when cognitive decline is or could be occurring, drawing examples from figures like Brooke Astor, Tony Bennett, and Sumner Redstone. It addresses challenges such as undue influence, outdated wills, and guardianship disputes, emphasizing measures like updated legal documents, independent oversight, medical evaluations, and durable powers of attorney. Highlighted during Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, the article aims to guide families and planners on managing mental incapacity to protect assets and relationships. These strategies ensure dignity, autonomy, and peace of mind while safeguarding legacies from potential conflicts.

Estate Law Update: Millions More California Homes Eligible to Bypass Full Probate Process

California Assembly Bill 2016 went into effect on April 1, 2025, raising the threshold on the value of primary residences that can bypass the full probate process to $750,000. This is a substantial increase from the previous limit of $184,500 set in 2019, meaning many more primary residences are eligible for the simplified petition process. This is great news for many who will avoid the lengthy and costly full probate procedure. Still, it is no replacement for comprehensive estate planning.

Four Estate Planning Lessons from the Deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa 

The deaths of famous actor Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa illustrates the need for comprehensive estate planning that goes beyond drafting a will. Estate planners should work with clients to develop a holistic plan that includes trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and beneficiary designations. But the most important lesson from this case is the need for contingency planning for lost beneficiaries and agents, and the testators themselves should they become incapacitated or unable to live unassisted. 

Divorce Need Not Ignite Estate Litigation, But Too Often It Does

Divorce Need Not Ignite Estate Litigation, But Too Often It Does By Amy L. Gostanian and Carl Jones Certain life events demand that estate planners work with client testators to adjust their estate plans. Divorce and remarriage are at the top of that list. When matrimony devolves into acrimony – setting the stage for expensive and counterproductive “scorched earth” litigation…

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