Do You Want Your Funeral Livestreamed? (And Other Thoughts Your Ancestors Didn’t Need to Contemplate) By Kristin M. Kaminski, Kaminski Law Group When your great-great-grandparents passed away, their end-of-life plans probably didn’t involve a camera crew or a stable internet connection. The biggest questions were who would host the wake, which hymns to sing, and…
What Happens with Capital Gains Tax When You Inherit a Home in California? An example involving a daughter navigating her mother’s trust illustrates how the step-up in basis works. When Samantha’s mother, Mary Lou, passed away earlier this year, Samantha found herself navigating the responsibilities of trust administration for the first time. Mary Lou had…
“It’s Okay, Mom Wouldn’t Have Wanted That”: Understanding POLST, DNRs, and Advance Directives in California When emergency crews arrived, Susan felt her heart race. Her mother, Evelyn, had collapsed at home. Paramedics were ready to start CPR. “Wait,” Susan said through tears. “She didn’t want this. She made that clear.” But when they asked for…
Haunted or Homebound? The Spooky Truth About Burying Human Remains on Private Property in California As Halloween approaches, thoughts of haunted houses, graveyards, and ghost stories fill the air. But what if you wanted to turn your own backyard into a final resting place? In California, the rules are clear: before you start digging, beware — the…
Do Registered Domestic Partners Have Inheritance Rights in California? When it comes to estate planning and inheritance in California, registered domestic partners are often unsure whether they have the same rights as married spouses. The good news is—yes, they do. Under California law, registered domestic partners are granted the same rights, protections, and benefits as…
