Meissner Ruggles Thompson, Inc. Legal Blog

Bob and Jane inherited their mom’s house.   They both co-own the house.  Jane lived in the house for years taking care of mom before she died.  Since mom died, Jane remains in the house, but is not paying for any expenses, except for utilities, still in mom’s name. ...

Partition Actions are lawsuits filed when co-owners of real property no longer wish to be co-owners and may have other disagreements about the property they own together. Co-owing real property with other people is becoming more common. This article addresses common...

An important estate planning tool for parents with minor children is the Nomination of Guardian.  This allows a client to exert some control over who will care for their children and their children’s assets if the parent is no longer able to do so.  Some attorneys...

In today’s housing market, more and more non-married couples are deciding to purchase homes together. Whether due to rising housing costs or the desire to build a shared future, co-owning property can be a rewarding but complex undertaking. Unlike married couples,...

The answer is yes.  I recently researched this issue when a friend that is a single parent of two teenagers whose job requires her to be out-of-state often had to scramble to get someone to physically get her children from the hospital.  One child was injured and...

Short answer, yes.  And your attorney has a duty to tell you that it is a bad idea.  This can be an uncomfortable conversation with my clients when they want to place certain requirements on a distribution to a beneficiary that I know is going to be impossible to...

Crafting a solid estate plan is essential to ensuring your wishes are fulfilled and your loved ones are provided for after you’re gone. However, even the most well-intentioned plans can unravel if critical details are overlooked. Below, we explore three common...

The short answer to the question of whether you are legally obligated to support your parents is “probably not.”  While California does have a filial law, it is rarely enforced. Filial laws are also known as filial support laws which require adult children to...

I love the holidays, it’s a time to gather and connect with friends and family.  Since I had my first child 17 years ago, I’ve used this time to mentally review whether or not the guardians I choose for my children still make sense.  I am sure you are eagerly...

I occasionally discuss with my clients the issue of someone “fighting” their trust. This usually is where there is an estranged child or other family member, and the clients are concerned about cost and delay of litigation after their death.  The clients will ask...