http://probatelawyer.sandiegoestatecenter.com We Can Probate Any Estate in California - The Law Offices of Roy Newman Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:28:55 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I receive calls from across the nation concerning theft by power of attorney – unfortunately I am not licensed to practice law in every state – and I am often relegated to giving general advice regarding criminal prosecution and the type of attorney that can privately prosecute the theft and ... http://probatelawyer.sandiegoestatecenter.com/2010/02/28/stealing-and-theft-by-power-of-attorney-a-new-low/ A young Michigan probate litigator who has shared a connection with the California Probate Center (see the Blogroll) has published a new book titled “Trial and Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights . . . And What You Can Learn from Celebrity Errors.” The book covers the estates of Michael Jackson, ... http://probatelawyer.sandiegoestatecenter.com/2010/01/31/when-celebrity-estate-planning-or-a-lack-thereof-leads-to-probate-disaster/ The Comedy Store, with one location in La Jolla in San Diego, has become the subject of a lawsuit alleging undue influence over the store’s owner. The local SoCal favorite has launched the careers of comedians like Robin Williams, David Letterman, Jim Carrey and countless others. It is ... http://probatelawyer.sandiegoestatecenter.com/2009/12/31/the-comedy-store-could-result-in-an-ugly-probate-fight/ In a bizarre turn of events, a funeral went awry after a coffin that was being lowered into a grave broke open. Immediately after the mishap, the funeral workers that were lowering the coffin allegedly ran from the scene, so two family members jumped into the grave in an ... http://probatelawyer.sandiegoestatecenter.com/2009/11/30/funeral-goes-horribly-wrong/ USA Today has published a list dealing with misconceptions about wills. The list tackles 5 common myths: Estate planning is for rich people. If I die without a will, everything will go to my spouse. If I have a will, my estate won't go through probate. After I create ... http://probatelawyer.sandiegoestatecenter.com/2009/10/31/why-do-i-need-a-california-will-5-myths-about-wills/ The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that a Jewish couple’s dying wish to disinherit any of their grandchildren that married outside of the Jewish faith was lawful. The Courts have traditionally ruled that clauses that promote divorce are against public policy, but here the Court held that the clause did ... http://probatelawyer.sandiegoestatecenter.com/2009/09/30/disinheritance-will-i-be-disinherited-for-marrying-outside-the-faith/ Leona Helmsley left an estate valued at about $5 billion with instructions stating that the money should, at least in part, be dedicated to the wellness of dogs. A few months ago, a judge ruled that the trustees could actually spend the money for other purposes – giving the ... http://probatelawyer.sandiegoestatecenter.com/2009/08/31/trust-litigation-a-5-billion-dollar-trust-for-the-dogs/ A no contest clause is a provision in an otherwise valid instrument that, if enforced, would penalize a beneficiary if the beneficiary files a contest with the court. Michael Jackson’s mother has asked the court whether her requesting the removal of Jackson’s executors ("What are the Duties of a ... http://probatelawyer.sandiegoestatecenter.com/2009/07/31/michael-what-is-a-no-contest-clause-jackson%e2%80%99s-mother-requests-instruction/ In 2005, an inflammatory series of articles was published in the Los Angeles Times (as reported earlier on this blog, here).  The articles named Melodie Jo Scott as having improperly allowed Sarah Kerley (who was then married to Scott’s brother) to live without paying rent in a conservatee’s house for ... http://probatelawyer.sandiegoestatecenter.com/2009/06/30/professional-conservator-denied-license-in-response-to-abuse/ A power of attorney is an essential component of any estate plan, but probate litigators know that you must be very careful with whom you entrust the power (see "How Do I Stop Power of Attorney Abuse?"). I have been repeatedly advised by clients of outrageous abuses by those ... http://probatelawyer.sandiegoestatecenter.com/2009/05/31/theft-stealing-fraud-and-abuse-the-power-of-attorney/