A person prepares a will with the objectives of stating explicitly how he will transfer his estate and to whom will parts of his estate go.  The objective of the decedent is to have peace of mind:  When he dies, … more

Probate, while providing a legal mechanism for the transfer of property from the decedent to his beneficiaries, has developed into a tedious, costly and open process.  Hence, the avoidance of this process may be seen as one key objective in … more

The length of time it takes for an estate to undergo probate in Orange County varies from case to case.  Barring hitches, it may be closed in 8 to 12 months.   You would be fortunate if your probate went that … more

To answer this question, you have to know first what estate planning is. It is a series of activities that allows you to systematize your  assets during your lifetime so as to provide for yourself and your heirs when you … more

There are changes to the estate tax code coming in 2013, therefore right now is the best time to take advantage of some of the most advantageous estate tax benefits that exist now which may never exist again.   This blog … more

Dwight Edward Tompkins,Estate Planning Lawyer. Tompkins-Law.com 

Dwight Edward Tompkins, Estate Planning Lawyer. Tompkins-Law.com 

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to hire a probate attorney, then surely a question on your mind will be how much hiring such a professional is going to cost. The fees for this kind of … more

Many of us have heard the probate horror stories of friends, loved ones and even perhaps well known individuals. Probate occurs when a deceased loved one’s assets get tied up in court typically because they did not have the proper … more

A young man went to his future father-in-law to ask for the hand of his daughter in marriage.                 “Yes,” the old man chuckled, “and you can even have the rest that goes with her hand.”                 The anecdote above … more