Probate in Contra Costa County: What Walnut Creek Families Need to Know in 2026 When a Walnut Creek family walks into my office after losing a loved one, probate is usually the word they’re hoping not to hear. And I understand why. Probate has a reputation — and much of it is deserved. It can be slow, expensive, and public…
A friend and colleague recently brought to my attention an aspect of our estate planning that neither of us had understood before and which had profoundly affected the family of a dear friend of hers. I am sharing this now to help spread awareness. As with many of the issues we must address in our estate planning, there is no…
Over the years I have seen clients struggle to get access to a parent’s safe deposit box after death. More than once, this seemingly simple task required us to open a probate proceeding in court, even though the deceased parent had set up a revocable trust to avoid probate. I’ve said this before: telling a client we have to do…
If your mom (or dad) has a revocable living trust and has now been diagnosed with dementia or another condition affecting mental capacity, the successor trustee is going to have to step. If that is you, you need to understand your responsibilities and take them seriously. Many people in this situation feel overwhelmed, scared of making a mistake, and unsure…
