The San Diego Estate Center

We Can Plan Any Estate In California - The Law Offices of Roy Newman

The Reading of the Will – When, Why and Who Should Be There?

That’s really a trick question. Although made famous in various movies, television shows, and books, probate and estate planning attorneys no longer (if they ever did) orally read the contents of estate planning documents to family members. They are primarily tasked with finding beneficiaries and heirs of a will and sending them a [...]

Probate Lawyer, San Diego California – The New Website Opens

After three weeks of development, the new probate lawyer section of the San Diego Estate Center Website has officially opened. Called the California Probate Center, the website has a lengthy article base that will grow over time. It is brought to you by San Diego probate lawyer Roy Newman, with details on what [...]

California Executor and Personal Representative Duties: Filing the Estate Tax Return

If you are appointed as executor, administrator, or personal representative (What are the duties of a personal representative?) of an estate, you are responsible for filing a tax return. An estate tax return must be filed within 9 months of the decedent’s death. Internal Revenue Code §6075. You may file for an extension [...]

California Probate Litigation: The Heirs of Superman’s Creators Reclaim His Copyright

The executors (See “What is a California Personal Representative?“) of Superman’s estate – Joanne Siegal and Laura Siegal Larson – have successfully reclaimed the estate’s half of Jerome Siegal’s copyright of Superman by terminating its grant to Warner Brothers, Time Warner, and DC Comics.
The opinion is an interesting read on the creation and promotion of [...]

What is California Probate? Supervising Judge of Los Angeles Probate Department Knows the Answer

For those looking to learn information about California Probate Court, Supervising Judge Aviva Bobb of the Los Angeles Probate Court gives real life examples of the practice of probate in her jurisdiction. Probate cases include living trust proceedings, conservatorships, guardianship, estate distribution, minors’ compromise, elder abuse restraining orders, petitions to authorize medical treatment and [...]

California Personal Representative – Duties and Liabilities

“What happens if I die without a will or trust?” The answer is that a California Personal Representative will be appointed by the court to administer your estate. A “’Personal representative’ means executor, administrator, administrator with the will annexed, special administrator, or successor personal representative.” California Probate Code §58. The order [...]

Deathbed Signings of Wills and Other Testamentary Documents

The Estate Planning Practice Blog has a nice article detailing the considerations and consequences that go along with deathbed estate planning.

Heath Ledger’s Uncles Say Deceased Actor’s Father is a Poor Manager of the Estate’s Assets

The following is from Ledger Family Feuding Over Heath's Estate, omg.yahoo.com, March 19, 2008: Heath Ledger's family is embroiled in the midst of a battle for control of the late actor's estate. The actor's uncles are speaking out against Heath's…