If someone passes away in California without a will or trust, the law says they have died intestate. When that happens, state law – not the person – decides who gets the property. This process, called intestate succession, is handled through probate court....
I just spent a week out of the office. Was I on vacation somewhere exotic? Not exactly. While social media sometimes makes it look like real estate agents live glamorous lives filled with luxury cars, designer clothes and jet-set adventures, the truth is often much...
Family businesses often represent more than financial success; they embody trust, shared values and a legacy passed through generations. In California, estate planning that includes a family business requires careful attention to fiduciary duties and formal agreements...
Adolph Koebig, San Bernardino’s city engineer, was envious of the Bear Valley Reservoir and Irrigation Company, which had built a $75,000 dam in Big Bear Valley in 1884, securing a year-round steady supply of water, allowing the Redlands agriculture industry to...
It seems like just yesterday that I hooked up with my “child bride,” but, no, it was 52 years ago on Aug. 25 that I married my college sweetheart at a fancy church wedding in Whittier. Like a lot of weddings back in the day, the first song played by the organist was...
Every so often, a homeowner or buyer will tell me, “The County of San Bernardino shows my property’s assessed value as X – so why should I pay Y?” or “I had my home appraised for X, so why should we list it for Y?” These are fair questions, but the key lies in...
