Legal

Most pet owners will agree: pets are more than just an animal in the house – they are a furry member of the family. When you have a pet, it makes sense that you want to ensure their comfort if something happens and you are unable to take care of them. But many people don’t […]

When you think of estate planning, you may think of naming beneficiaries and passing your assets along to those you love. While that is reason enough for an estate plan, you can also leave a legacy for future generations by passing down your values, wishes, and financial security to those who follow in your footsteps.  […]

Losing a loved one is undoubtedly a difficult experience, and the last thing you want is to burden your family with additional financial stress. Unfortunately, if you pass away unexpectedly without an estate plan in place, your loved ones will likely go through the probate process, which can be both time-consuming and costly. In this […]

Families with special needs individuals should take extra measures during the estate planning process to ensure that their special needs family members will be cared for after the responsible party’s death. Special needs trusts are an important tool to ensure that this happens.  All About Special Needs Trusts A special needs trust is a legal […]

You work hard to provide your family with a healthy, comfortable life. After you die, the last thing you want is for your assets to be tied up in probate when your family needs them most. Probate is the court process of authenticating your will (if you have one) or the administration of distributing your […]

Reid & Hellyer, APC, the venerable Riverside, California law firm which dates back to 1897, announced that attorney Kiki Manti Engel has been named its newest shareholder, effective February 1, 2023. The firm focusses on civil litigation, including the areas of real estate, business, employment, appellate and probate litigation, together with estate planning, bankruptcy representation, […]

If you pass away and have not properly prepared with an estate plan, your assets will fall into probate before they can be distributed to your loved ones. In many cases, probate costs your family time and money they cannot afford when trying to pick up the pieces after your death. What Is Probate? Probate […]

We Take Pleasure in Announcing That Kiki Manti Engel Has Become a Shareholder of Reid & Hellyer, APC Ms. Engel presently serves as the Chair of the Civil Litigation Section of the Riverside County Bar Association. Ms. Engel also presently serves on the board of the Leo A. Deegan Inn of Court. Ms. Engel was the […]

Thinking about estate planning can feel like a burden. You never want to imagine unexpectedly passing away and what would happen to your assets or, more importantly, your children. What do you need to do to start the estate planning process? And what makes the planning different as a single parent? Estate Planning for Single […]

At the stroke of Midnight on December 31, 2022, we say good-bye to the old year and usher in the New Year – 2023. Then, at 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2023, we say hello to several changes in Labor and Employment Laws in the State of California. Here are some o those changes which […]

Many people travel during the holidays, whisking out of the country or off to the beach to escape the cold. Before you leave on vacation, do you have your estate planning up to date? It is always a good idea to make plans for the unexpected before going on vacation. Estate Planning Before Holiday Vacations […]

The United States Department of State reported on October 1, 2022 that, in fiscal year 2022, a total of 281,507 visas were issued among its five employment-based preference categories – a number that is over double the annual allotment of 140,000 employment-based visas. For fiscal year 2023, the Department of State projects a total of […]

If you have aging loved ones, you know how pressing it feels to make sure their affairs are in order if they were to pass away. Unfortunately, your parents or grandparents may not feel the same urgency that you feel. Maybe they are not educated on how important it is to create an estate plan. […]

On September 29, 2022, Governor Gavin Newson signed AB 1041, expanding an employee’s right to take up to 12 weeks of protected unpaid leave from work to care for a person designated by the employee, starting January 1, 2023. The California Family Rights Act, originally enacted in 1993, was amended in 2020 to expand the […]

A will is an excellent tool to make a plan for your assets and heirs after you die. Everyone needs to have an estate plan, but most people do not make a plan until they approach the golden years in life. Unfortunately, oftentimes people pass away unexpectedly, never having made arrangements for a will. Here’s […]

As the old saying goes, “you can’t pick your neighbors.” In Southern California where property is a valuable commodity, it is common for adjoining properties to be close in proximity. One issue that is relatively common due to the lack of significant distance between neighbors is the responsibilities of property owners when a tree is […]

As we go through life, estate planning is something that can easily get pushed to the back of our minds and sit lower on our priority list of things to do. However, when we approach an older age or are diagnosed with a terminal illness, estate planning suddenly becomes more prevalent. So what do you […]

The fact is, estate planning gets more complex if you have been married multiple times, taken on stepchildren, or had children with your new spouse. You do not want to leave anyone out your estate plan. If you were to leave all of your assets to your new spouse, your children from a previous marriage […]

If you have an estate plan, do you still have a need for a life insurance policy? Even if you have plenty of assets to pass down to your loved ones after your passing, having life insurance will still help you prepare for the unexpected.   5 Ways to Include Life Insurance into Your Estate Plan […]

Taking care of a child with special needs can come with challenges, including financial ones. However, you want to set your child up for success in every way, which means allowing them to take care of their medical situation with the best financial means possible. The question is, how can you save large amounts of […]

Approximately 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas are made available every fiscal year under United States immigration laws to qualified applicants with a job offer from a U.S. employer. However, due to the restrictions and staffing shortages during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, many family and employment-based visas were not used during fiscal year 2021. As a result, […]

You may find it challenging to talk about what would happen to your children if you and your spouse were to pass away. No one wants to imagine such a tragic, unexpected accident. But part of taking care of your children is preparing for the unimaginable. When you sit down with a sensitive, experienced lawyer […]

Approximately 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas are made available every fiscal year under United States immigration laws to qualified applicants with a job offer from a U.S. employer. However, due to the restrictions and staffing shortages during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, many family and employment-based visas were not used during fiscal year 2021. As a result, […]