Ideally, a family living trust should be funded with all the assets so they all pass to the beneficiaries through the trust. Of course, this doesn’t always happen. More often than we would like to see, individuals who have set up trusts still have banking and investment accounts with old...
Category: Probate and Trust
What Happens When a Bank Refuses to
Accept Your Power of Attorney?
Recently, our firm has received a number of inquiries from clients telling us that their bank or credit union has refused to recognize valid financial powers of attorney. Case Study: Mary’s Story This can happen for a number of different reasons, but one common scenario unfolds something like this: A...
Max Alavi, Attorney at Law, APC: Contested Trust Litigation “Win”
Newport Beach, California, October 2018 – Max Alavi, Attorney at Law, APC would like to announce the successful conclusion of another litigated trust matter. After a two-year battle in the Orange County Courthouse, Max Alavi, Attorney at Law, APC was able to reclaim trust assets denied to our client who...
Max Alavi, Attorney at Law, APC: Excited to Announce Relocation of Main Office to New Location
Newport Beach, California, October 2019 – Max Alavi, Attorney at Law, APC is pleased to inform you of our new office location at 2424 SE Bristol St. This move will allow for the further expansion at a more client-friendly location situated off the 73 Freeway for easy travel access and...
The Importance of Properly Funding Your Trust
Setting up a living trust is an important tool to provide a smooth and cost-effective transfer of assets to your heirs when you pass. However, creating a trust is just the first step. The next crucial step in the process is funding the trust. “Funding the trust” refers to the...
What Can I Do if the Trustee Won’t Give me a Copy of the Trust?
Every now and then we encounter situations where a trustee refuses to provide a copy of the trust to the beneficiaries. This leaves the beneficiaries uneasy, as the trustee carries on the affairs of the estate while the beneficiaries are left in the dark. Fortunately, the California Probate Code has...
Do I Really Need to Create a Living Trust?
The most common purpose for setting up a living trust is to protect your heirs from having to go through the probate process when you pass away. Probate is the term used to describe the legal process in which the state court determines how the assets of a deceased’s estate...
What about transferring my IRA and other tax-deferred plans to my Living Trust?
As a general rule: Do not change the ownership of these to your living trust. You can name your trust as the beneficiary, but be sure to consider all your options, which could include your spouse; children, grandchildren or other individuals; a trust; a charity; or a combination of these....