July 2023

There are a few standard questions I almost always get when people find out that I work in probate litigation. “Do people call you right away when their relatives die?” “Isn’t that tough to deal with, emotionally?” And most frequently, “What can I do to make sure no one challenges my estate plan after I

Earlier this month, a Michigan jury considered whether handwriting in a spiral notebook found under a couch cushion at singer Aretha Franklin’s home constituted her valid last will.  Franklin had written and signed the four-page document, and dated it “3/31/14,” but it was not signed by any witness.  A six-person jury deemed the 2014 will

Independence Day invites reflection on another form of freedom.  How do we respect the autonomy of California’s elders who experience progressive forms of dementia while protecting them from potential abuse and other harm?  Elders want to develop new relationships, remain in their homes, and drive their cars.  Loved ones may question those choices.

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