If you’re tempted to use DIY forms to create your will, you should strongly consider consulting an estate planning lawyer in Tracy or Livermore first. Estate planning law is complicated, and it’s easy to make mistakes that could cost your heirs. Errors by omission are also common. Did you know, for instance, that if you have minor children at the time of your death, the state can decide who will get custody of them? You can prevent this potential catastrophe by talking to an estate planning lawyer about your situation.

Attorneys who handle estate planning matters have years of experience navigating the nuances of the law. Your lawyer can give you solid, actionable guidance on protecting your family’s future. For many families, creating a trust is an ideal way to retain control of assets and minimize estate taxes. Your attorney can help you weigh the benefits of setting up a trust. When it’s time to draft the documents, letting a lawyer handle this task ensures the job will get done right the first time.

Car crashes, dog attacks, and slip and fall incidents all have at least one thing in common: The potential for long-term disability and disfigurement. If you have experienced life-changing injuries due to someone else’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation with the help of a personal injury lawyer . An injury lawyer serving Tracy and Manteca can guide you through the process of assessing the likelihood of long-term losses and calculating future damages.

Types of Long-Term Injuries

The injuries that accidents typically cause can result in chronic pain that ranges in intensity from mild to disabling. Long-term injuries include traumatic brain injuries (TBI), severe disfigurement, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Personal injury lawyers can seek compensation for their clients’ amputation. An amputation may be traumatic, which can happen during a serious car crash, or it may be planned. For instance, the victim of a dog attack may suffer a life-threatening infection that requires the amputation of a hand, foot, or limb. Other long-term injuries include severe disfigurement and burn injuries. Depending on the particular type of injury or disability, patients may suffer from lingering symptoms such as the following:

• Dizziness
• Tinnitus
• Headaches
• Suicidal thoughts
• Phantom pain of an amputated limb

Documentation for Long-Term Injuries

To obtain a successful outcome for your case, your injury lawyer needs as much documentation as you can provide. Your medical records will play a vital role in your case. Be sure to attend every scheduled follow-up appointment with your doctor, and fully disclose any lingering symptoms or physical deficits you’re experiencing. Keep a record of your sessions with physical or occupational therapists. As you progress toward recovery, ask your healthcare provider if there is a likelihood of a long-term impact from your injuries, such as recurrent health problems or an increased risk of degenerative problems later in life. If so, ask your doctor to make a note of it in your medical records.

Compensation for Long-Term Injuries

Long-term injuries often involve some degree of functional impairment. For example, you may suffer from reduced vision, poor mobility, or cognitive decline. Not only do these problems affect your quality of life, but they may also prevent you from working at your full capacity. Your injury lawyer might ask you to meet with a life care planner or vocational rehab expert to evaluate your long-term damages. This enables your lawyer to seek appropriate compensation on your behalf.

It’s not as uncommon as you might think for individuals to disinherit family members. However, estate planning is always a tricky subject. If you do intend to disinherit someone, it’s wise to discuss this with your attorney in Tracy or Livermore. This is because estate law approaches disinheritances in different ways, depending on that person’s relation to the testator of the will.

Making the Decision

The decision to disinherit a family member is entirely yours to make. People disinherit family members for a variety of reasons. Given the prevalence of estrangement in families, disinheritance often stems from the simple fact that the testator has no relationship with the family member. Or, perhaps the disinherited family member is already financially secure and doesn’t need the inheritance as much as other family members. If you’ve decided to disinherit someone purely because you believe that person will make poor financial decisions, consider asking your lawyer to set up a trust instead.

Understanding Disinheritance Laws

As your estate planning lawyer will advise you, you do have the right to distribute your own assets in any manner you please. However, you might not have full ownership in all of your assets. If you’re married, your spouse is legally entitled to half of the marital assets. In most cases, the only way to completely disinherit a spouse is if he or she agrees to be disinherited via a legal contract. If you’re separated from your spouse, getting a divorce finalized may be a more feasible option. Estate law is more flexible regarding the disinheritance of a child. In most states, children do not have the legal right to an inheritance.

Preventing a Will Contest

If you intend to disinherit a child, you may be tempted to simply make no mention of him or her in your will. Unfortunately, this may set the stage for a will contest. The disinherited child may contest the will out of the belief that it may not be valid. Instead of simply leaving the child out of the will entirely, it’s best to specifically state that you do not intend to leave any assets to a particular person. For the sake of familial harmony after your death, it may be wise to explain your reasoning in a separate letter to be opened after your death.

When someone dies, his or her will is submitted to a probate court for validation. The court will determine whether the will is valid or invalid, and officially appoint the executor of the will. Since probate can be a complex process , it’s advisable to consult a lawyer in Tracy or Manteca if you’ve been appointed as the executor. An experienced will attorney can also represent the heirs of the estate, particularly if there could be a problem with the will.

Watch this video to learn more about the probate process, including potential problems. For instance, someone may contest the validity of the will by claiming that it wasn’t properly witnessed or that the decedent was coerced into signing it. In most cases, probate proceeds without these issues.

If you have been injured as the result of the reckless behavior of another party, you have the right to consult a personal injury lawyer in Tracy or Livermore. It’s a good idea to ask if there are any documents you should bring to your first consultation with your lawyer. To perform a thorough case assessment, your lawyer will likely need to see your medical records. You’ll be asked to sign a medical release form. You can rest assured that your injury lawyer will keep your information in the strictest confidence. Your lawyer may also ask to see your insurance policy, and the police or accident report.

Your personal injury lawyer will ask you some questions about the incident. Provide all the details you can remember about what happened before, during, and after the accident. Using all of your information and relevant documents, your lawyer will weigh the strengths and weaknesses of the case. You’ll discuss whether there is merit to pursuing a lawsuit. If so, your lawyer will identify one or more defendants.

If you fall in a restaurant, retail store, or parking lot as a result of the property owner’s negligence, you might be able to secure compensation with the help of a personal injury lawyer in Tracy or Manteca. Since slip-and-fall cases, also known as premises liability cases, are difficult to litigate successfully, it’s important to get in touch with an experienced lawyer right away. Your injury lawyer will give you invaluable guidance to preserve your legal rights after the accident.

Report the accident right away.

If the accident occurred in a retail establishment, you should notify the manager or owner before leaving the area. Insist that the manager files an accident report noting the important details of the incident. Request a copy of the accident report for your own records. Your lawyer will need to look at this later.

Preserve all available physical evidence.

Physical evidence is crucial in a premises liability case. If possible, take pictures before you leave the scene. Photograph the hazardous condition, such as a wet area of the floor that lacked a caution sign. You could also take pictures of your injuries. Make a note of whether there is a surveillance camera nearby. Ask nearby witnesses to write down their full names and contact information. Later, keep the clothing that you were wearing and do not wash it, especially if it has bloodstains. Preserve all damaged property, such as broken eyeglasses. Keep all of your medical bills and receipts, and retain documentation for all other losses, such as lost wages.

Get a medical evaluation promptly.

In severe cases, you may need to be transported to the hospital via an ambulance. Even if your injuries don’t seem to be too serious, you should go to an urgent care center or ER immediately. It’s important to have a doctor document your injuries promptly to add to the evidence that the fall was the cause of the medical problems.

Do not agree to give a recorded statement.

You may be contacted by a claims adjuster. Avoid answering any questions and refuse to give a recorded statement. Instead, provide your lawyer’s contact information and insist that all questions be directed to him or her.

When you consult a personal injury lawyer near Tracy or Manteca, he or she may discuss the possibility of a settlement. Your lawyer can negotiate a favorable settlement on your behalf. If you accept the settlement offer, it means that you agree not to pursue litigation in exchange for a certain sum of money. You are not legally bound to accept a settlement. If you reject the settlement offer, your personal injury lawyer can take the other party to court.

For more information about personal injury settlements, watch this brief video and consult your injury lawyer. The professional featured here explains that a personal injury settlement can compensate injury victims for their medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

A properly drafted will should designate a person to serve as the executor of the estate. In some cases, a will names two people to be co-executors or the document may designate an alternate executor. If you have been asked to serve in this capacity, it’s a good idea to consult a lawyer in Tracy or Manteca. An estate planning attorney can help you understand exactly what your responsibilities will be.

Filing the Will

When an individual dies, his or her will must be filed with the local probate court. The court will determine the validity of the document. The court will also need the death certificate and the petition for probate.

Notifying the Beneficiaries

The document will identify one or more beneficiaries, also known as heirs. It’s the executor’s job to locate the beneficiaries and mail notices of the probate to each of them. Likewise, you’ll need to provide notice to each of the decedent’s creditors.

Identifying and Managing Assets

During the probate process, it’s the responsibility of the executor to safeguard the estate property. You may need to open an estate bank account and obtain an IRS identification number. You’ll need to track down each of the decedent’s assets, including bank accounts, investment accounts, and real property. Prepare a complete inventory of the estate assets, including professional appraisals as necessary.

Satisfying Liabilities

It’s common for individuals to die with outstanding debts. It’s your job to identify all of these liabilities and use the estate assets to satisfy them. You’ll also need to close open accounts, such as credit cards, and cancel outstanding contracts or leases.

Distributing Assets

Once the decedent’s debts have all been satisfied, it’s time to distribute the remaining assets in accordance with the specifications of the will. First, you’ll need permission from the court to distribute the assets. Obtain and save receipts for the transfers of all of the assets. You’ll need to file these receipts when you request that the court officially release you from your duties as an executor.