Articles

What Is Estate Planning?

When we pass away, we want to know that our loved ones will be taken care of. The best way to do this is to plan for all the financial and legal issues that your friends and family may have to deal with after your death. While most people assume that a will alone is all that is needed for clear transfer of property and a minimization of costly legal entanglements after your death, the reality is that this is only really possible through careful estate planning. Simply put, estate planning is the process by which you take care of all the tasks necessary to manage your assets if you are alive but disabled and also after your death. A [...]

By Michael D. Larsen|2018-08-10T14:19:23-07:00May 28th, 2016|Articles, Estates|

Moving to California or out of California

People who have moved from another state to California often come to my office with a will or a trust written under the laws of another state. They want to know if they need a new will or trust now that they live in California. I generally advise people to write a new will or trust under California law if they plan to stay in California. Why?The answer is related to a complex area of the law called "conflicts of law." This means that a court has to figure out what to do if the law of the will or trust--let's say Oregon--conflicts in some way with the law of California, where the person now lives. You want to avoid [...]

By Michael D. Larsen|2018-08-10T14:19:24-07:00March 15th, 2013|Articles|

Welcome To My Blog

Welcome to my blog site. You have found a rather unusual law practice that can solve your family, business and international legal needs – all under one roof. And you’re not going to be shuffled off to some attorney in a large office. When you call, you will deal with Michael Larsen himself. Whether wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney or any business-related legal issues, I am totally committed to your peace of mind. My clients typically reside in California, are small business owners, families with assets, or both. Some of them have family or property in foreign countries. I enjoy the challenges of cross-border issues that arise through inheritance and property ownership in other countries, such as Canada, France, [...]

By Michael D. Larsen|2018-08-10T14:19:24-07:00March 11th, 2013|Articles|