If you've been in an accident or opened up an insurance claim, you may be quickly contacted by an insurance investigator and asked to provide a statement. The insurance representative may initiate the conversation by asking how you are recovering from your accident. In reality, the question is mo...
Managing and Controlling Assets Trusts provide an avenue to pass wealth to your heirs while retaining some control over when and how they receive those funds. Because they are little understood, trusts are often overlooked as a vehicle for carrying out your wishes for your estate when you die. Bu...
Reaching Your Goals, Protecting Your Interests Proper asset protection planning can safeguard your hard-earned assets should you face legal trouble down the road. An essential step in financial planning, too many Californians overlook the importance of asset protection planning because they don't...
Naming Beneficiaries Many people overlook the importance of naming life insurance, annuity, and retirement account beneficiaries. Often, making a mistake when naming a beneficiary will result in an expensive and lengthy probate process upon the policy or account holder's death. Because these acco...
Writing Your Will Many Californians forgo creating a will for all the wrong reasons. Some assume wills are only necessary if you have a high net-worth, while others feel that thinking about what happens when you die is too unpleasant of an experience. In reality, everyone should have a will, no m...
Estate Tax Explained California phased out the requirement to file a State estate tax return for descendants who died on or after January 1, 2005. However, the Federal estate tax is still enforceable. The Federal estate tax only affects a small percentage of wealthy Americans, estimated at two ou...
Expungement provides many important benefits for those with a criminal record. Expunging a conviction from your record can significantly improve your chances of getting a job, an apartment, or even a loan. But there are some things expungement does not do, which you should learn about if you are ...
A DUI involving a collision can have dramatically different consequences than a DUI alone. DUI collisions frequently involve injuries and property damage, which raise the stakes of the DUI offense. It's important to take the right steps after a DUI collision to minimize the potential consequences...
Your Public Life It should come as no surprise that what you post on social media is public. By sharing your personal life with friends and family online, you inadvertently share your life with everyone online, including the California criminal justice system. Thus, if you are facing criminal cha...
Domestic violence is treated as a serious offense in California, much more so when the offense involves a deadly weapon. In California, domestic violence involving deadly weapons can result in a charge of assault with a deadly weapon or assault with a firearm. The consequences of a charge of assa...
Many domestic violence incidents involve self-defense. Unfortunately, claiming self-defense as a defense to domestic violence charges isn't foolproof. It's not enough to claim you were using self-defense, and not all acts of self-defense leave you immune from criminal liability. To help clear up ...
Calculating BAC Blood alcohol concentration or content (BAC) is a critical legal element in DUI cases. Many assume BAC defines DUI in California statute, and indeed it plays a significant role. Unfortunately, breathalyzer devices can be inaccurate, and there is no sure-fire way to accurately calc...
An arrest is a stressful experience. It can happen quickly before you even know it. Police officers don't waste time. If they have what they need to make an arrest (e.g. a warrant or probable cause), they will take action immediately. Then you're put into the squad car and taken into the station ...
States nationwide are fighting for bail reform. Proponents of bail reform argue certain bail practices disproportionately burden people of color and those with limited financial resources. When a dollar amount is all that keeps some behind bars while others walk free, the system is indeed flawed....
What CDL Drivers Should Do After a DUI Arrest Commercial drivers provide us an essential service by keeping the flow of goods across this country moving. Unfortunately, one misstep could put their entire career on the line, something most of us don't have to worry about. A DUI conviction can wrea...
A domestic violence conviction in California can change your life significantly. Unfortunately, false domestic violence allegations are all too common, and the system is designed to favor the alleged victim, not the defendant. The good news is many skilled attorneys have successfully fought charg...
The California DMV and the court can suspend your California driver's license for a number of reasons, including unpaid fines, failure to appear in court, and certain citations and convictions. While losing your license can be a significant inconvenience, driving on a suspended license is never w...
An Era of Transparency Our lives are online, whether we like it or not. Even if you don't share your personal life with friends online, chances are someone could view your personal information with just a click of a button. And the information that can be discovered is the kind that can hurt you ...
After a DUI arrest, most people are rightfully concerned about losing their license. Police officers will confiscate your license when arresting you for a DUI, which sets in the realization that, in just a few weeks, you'll no longer be able to drive. But before you give up hope and start plannin...
The Aftermath of Domestic Violence A domestic violence (DV) conviction can hit anyone hard. With fines, protection orders, and incarceration on the list of potential penalties, anyone convicted of domestic violence can expect a significant life change. But non-citizens face an even greater potent...
Ban the Box Protections In the Ban the Box Era, more Californians with criminal records are being treated fairly than ever before. With new laws to protect those at a disadvantage in place, people are being judged on their own merits first and their criminal histories last. This represents a shif...
How Self-Driving Cars Will Change Driving There are over 35 million registered cars in California today. That number has almost caught up to the population of California, which is over 39 million to date. With nearly as many cars as people in the Golden State, it's easy to see why DUI laws are so...
Transporting Marijuana As California's marijuana use laws continue to evolve, so do the laws regarding transport and use in vehicles. Because these laws are changing so rapidly, every year, in fact, it's hard for Californians to stay up to date and in the know about what they can and cannot do wi...
Being convicted of a crime is something most people want to move on from, and fast. But doing so can prove difficult if you don't know where to start. Moving on from a criminal conviction happens in steps, some small and some large, so here are three effective ways to move on from your criminal c...
Sex Offender Registration Laws Public debate surrounding sex offender registration laws keep this topic alive and well and the laws ever changing. Whenever the media covers a “loophole” in sex offender registration policies (e.g. an offender reoffends or fails to register), people argue the laws ...
We focus on defending clients accused of Domestic Violence and Driving Under the Influence (DUI), two of the most aggressively prosecuted charges in California. Every case starts with listening. We take the time to understand your situation, your concerns, and your goals so we can build a defense strategy tailored specifically to you. If you are under investigation or have already been charged, do not wait. Early action can make a critical difference in your case. Contact us today for a confidential consultation.
