Unique Needs Same-sex couples face the same challenges as heterosexual couples do when estate planning. Married same-sex spouses enjoy many benefits and are viewed the same as heterosexual spouses for legal and tax purposes. Unmarried spouses, however, have to take a few additional steps to ensur...
Dog Bite Liability in California Dog bites can cause severe injuries and even death. Breed-specific legislation has worked to limit where specific breeds, such as Pit Bulls and German Shepherds, can live, thus providing protection on the community and municipal level. But people still fall prey t...
Planning for the Future as an Unmarried Couple For married couples, estate planning may be relatively straightforward. With many assets, the deceased's spouse is typically the beneficiary. For unmarried couples, however, estate planning might take a few additional measures to ensure the surviving...
Settling a personal injury claim isn't as easy as submitting your medical bills and waiting for a check. Well, insurance companies might want you to think it's that easy, but only because that method usually results in the claimant receiving less compensation than he or she deserves. The truth is...
Having the right to file a personal injury claim does not mean you have a right to have your claim paid right away. Many people don't realize they must go through the insurance claims process before they can receive the compensation they deserve. This leaves many who've been injured in an acciden...
Protecting Your Right to Privacy When filing a personal injury claim, insurance companies will request medical records to corroborate the medical bills for which you are seeking reimbursement. But insurance companies will also use medical records as a resource through which to comb for evidence t...
Insurance companies spend a lot of money on presenting an image to the public of a trusted service company that has your best interests in mind. From well-known spokespeople to catchy taglines, Big Insurance is not without its deceptive practices. Insurance companies make an effort to convince po...
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 ...
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.
