Whether a parent succumbed after a long period of illness or died more suddenly, your first concern is no doubt the relational and emotional loss and not the financial consequences. But understanding to whom the parent’s property should be distributed and the legal process in California by which that occurs is a question you will need to address in the near term, especially if other parties...
If you are the beneficiary of a trust put in place by a living or deceased family member or some other benefactor, your financial well-being is at least partially in the hands of the trustee appointed to oversee that trust. Unfortunately, trustees mishandle their responsibilities in administering trusts quite frequently, either through incompetence, greed and self-dealing, lack of attention,...