Legal

Here are the top five reasons that people don’t have an estate plan: Procrastination This is the number one reason, and not too surprising. Making an estate plan is easy to put off (even if you think it is a good idea). Everyone has busy lives and the prospect of assembling all the information and […]

There are a number of ways to participate, and one of the easiest is to include your favorite charity in your estate plan. When you name a charity in your will or trust you can leave a legacy without affecting your current resources, and in some cases, there can be tax advantages. How to Make […]

Have a legal question? The Temecula Law Resource Center (TLRC) may be able to help! TLRC will host a Free Legal Aid Clinic on Wednesday, October 23rd from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, where volunteer attorneys will provide free 20-minute consultations at the Ronald H. Roberts Temecula Public Library (30600 Pauba Road). Areas of law […]

The importance of this cannot be overstated, and there are well publicized cases where patients linger for years with no AHCD, and family or medical personnel have no ability to make extreme decisions. Because this may be an uncomfortable topic, some families will put it off, but it is really fairly simple for your attorney […]

Immigration laws and policy in the US are in the news almost daily, and with a diverse, multi-cultural population there are many families that have non-US citizen spouses or children. A family member is a non-citizen even if they have a green card and permanent residency, and of course would include those holding non-immigrant visas. […]

As a self-employed individual you are technically a sole proprietor and have similar obligations as any business owner. So, even if you are an Uber driver, freelance consultant or IT specialist, you need to think of yourself as a real, independent business, and not just a service provider. Tax Planning – One of the primary […]

As I am sure you can imagine, all dog bites are shocking to the victim especially if it was unexpected and unprovoked. Further, some dog bites result in serious injuries; and in the worst-case death can result from the most vicious attacks. Also, a dog bite can result in permanent scarring, nerve damage and a […]

The Living Trust – A living trust is a flexible estate planning tool that allows you to manage and distribute your assets and can remain in effect after you die. Here are the basics: A trust contains a current transfer of assets while you are alive, administered by a trustee. You as the grantor of […]

10 Things You Might Do After an Vehicular Collision – The following information while not complete are the top ten suggestions. You may want to keep this information in your wallet or in your car: 1. STOP. Never drive away from the scene of a collision, even a minor one. 2. PROTECT THE SCENE OF […]

by Attorney Morton J. Grabel & Attorney Mark R. Denning While some slip and fall cases can be handled on your own in Small Claims Court, most will require the assistance of an experienced attorney. Slip and fall cases are difficult to win in court, because there is no exact method for proving that a property […]

If you have heard of estate planning but have not taken any steps to create your own plan, you might be one of those who believe in a few common myths. You should not let these myths keep you from creating a will or trust to protect and distribute your assets. Myth #1: Estate planning […]

The structure of a DAF is simple; you set it up with your community foundation or as a charitable trust with a financial adviser, and then decide how you want funds distributed and to which charities. The next step is to make the DAF a beneficiary of a trust in your estate plan, and you […]

Also, a dog bite can result in permanent scarring, nerve damage and a significant risk of infection. Often there is residual psychological harm that extends far beyond the physical injury. Therefore, laws have been passed to protect and/or compensate the victim of a dog attack based on the legal theories of strict liability and negligence. […]

The Law Office of Morton Grabel can provide assistance pursuing a civil case so the affected senior can work within the law to protect their rights. There are many technical legal rules that must be followed in order for a senior to make a successful claim and failing to comply with any of the requirements […]

The Living Trust – A living trust is a flexible estate planning tool that allows you to manage and distribute your assets and can remain in effect after you die. Here are the basics: A trust contains a current transfer of assets while you are alive, administered by a trustee. You as the grantor of […]

  The automobile insurance industry lobbied state legislatures to base these types of accident liability more on motor vehicle statutes than on common law notions of fault. This has made it easier for insurers to challenge fault when the other party in an accident has violated a traffic law, especially since liability insurance is required […]

Financial Planning – Generally speaking, financial planning focuses on managing your current assets and resources to maximize investment gains and minimize taxes, as well as analyzing your income, budgets and spending. Typically, this can be done by a certified financial planner who has expertise in these areas, and can recommend different investment vehicles, strategies and […]

Parties to lawsuits become increasingly anxious in resolving their legal disputes as the disputes drag on and become more expensive. This has lead to other methods to resolve legal disputes; collectively known as Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Usually ADR is initiated after litigation has commenced because the court has to have jurisdiction [authority] over the […]

Avoid Intestate Laws The first thing to understand, is that if you die without an estate plan, state statutes will control how your assets are distributed.  What this means is that your hard-earned money and property could go to an uncle or cousin you have not seen in years, while others that you are close […]

Has this happened to you? • You fell behind on mortgage payments and your lender has given you misleading, double-talk information about your options to save your home; you just can’t get a straight answer……… • You have applied for a loan modification and your lender is sending you foreclosure notices at the same time……. […]

Adopted Children – No Estate Plan – Intestate Succession An adopted child has the same legal status as a biological child in California, even if they are not US citizens. What this means is that if you die without a will, intestate law will control the distribution of your estate and adopted children will receive […]

Remember, at a minimum someone needs to know that you have a will or trust and where it is located, but often that will be your attorney. Situations When Transparency is a Good Idea Here are a few examples of when it might be wise to share your estate plan details: Family Business – If […]

I) Homestead is superior to a judgment creditor – Homestead protects homeowners from a particular kind of creditor- “the judgment creditor”. A judgment results from a lawsuit and determination you actually owe money to the plaintiff who brought the lawsuit. A judgment entitles the judgment creditor to use certain legal powers to collect that money. […]