Do I Have A Right To See My Parent’s Estate Plan?

Hi. This is Marc Herbert from Herbert Law Office with the Question of the week, which is, do I have a right to know what’s in my parents estate plan? Now, this question usually comes up in the context of someone who hears their parents or their children or somebody talking about building an estate […]

Can I Write A Will By Myself?

Hi. This is Marc Herbert from Herbert Law Office with the Question of the Week. Last week I was asked, you know, I don’t have a whole lot of money. Can I just write a will all by myself? So the answer to that is yes. But you have to be very careful. California has […]

Gift & Estate Tax Changes YOU Should Know

Hi state planning attorney Marc Herbert here with the latest information about gift and estate taxes for 2023. As an attorney since 1995, a major focus of my office is to help California families avoid probate court and unnecessary taxes. But every year there are new state and federal tax laws that affect our ability […]

Are Trusts Only For Wealthy People?

Hi. This is Marc Herbert from Herbert Law Office with the Question of the week, which is are trusts only for wealthy people? Well, the simple answer is no. Trusts are really for middle class people and wealthy people as well. But it’s pretty much for anybody who has a house. Anybody who has young […]

Do I Need an Estate Plan If I’m Not Wealthy?

Hi. This is Marc Herbert from Herbert Law Office with the Question of the Week. Over the weekend, I got asked, do I even need an estate plan since I’m not rich? Well, my answer always is that depends. So if you have a house or any kind of land in California worth $55,000 or […]

Can You Contest The Executor or Successor Trustee of an Estate Plan?

Hi. This is Marc Herbert from Herbert Law Office with the Question of the Week. This week I was asked, can we contest the executor or successor trustee in the estate planning documents? And the answer is yes, you can do that. Actually, two different ways. But you have to be very careful. And I […]

What Happens If an Executor Refuses To Fulfill The Terms of A Trust?

Hi, This is Marc Herbert from Herbert Law Office with the Question of the Week. Yesterday, I was asked by a client what happens if the terms of the trust or the will that I’m a beneficiary for are being violated by the trustee or the executor. So the first thing you need to understand […]

Can I Refinance A House Held In My Trust?

Hi. This is Marc Herbert from Herbert Law Office with the Question of the week, which is, can I refinance a house held in my trust? The answer is yes, but you have to be careful. I actually got this question last week during Thanksgiving, a family member had just refinanced their house. They have […]

What Happens To My Property When I Pass Away?

Hi. This is Marc Herbert from Herbert Law Office with the Question of the Week. This week I got asked twice what happens to my property when I pass away. And that’s a great question. And it’s kind of a complicated question, too, because in California, it really depends on what type of assets you […]

When Is The Best Time to Write My Estate Plan?

Hi, This is Marc Herbert from Herbert Law office with the Question of the Week. Many times I get asked, when should I write my estate plan or what’s the best time to write an estate plan? So there’s three basic rules of thumb, in my opinion. If you have a house in California, you […]