Basic Steps in a Civil Litigation Case
A civil lawsuit often arises out of disputes between people, businesses, or other entities, including government entities. Civil lawsuits generally proceed through a few basic steps: pleadings, discovery, trial, and possibly an appeal. However, parties can halt this process by voluntarily settling at any time, which is what happens in most cases. Catanese & Wells,…
Living Trust: Is It For Me?
A legal trust is similar to a will – it’s a written legal document and it partially substitutes for a will and can be an important part of your estate plan. Your assets are put into the trust during your lifetime and then transferred to your beneficiaries when you die. You can make yourself the…
Donating Your Estate to Charity
Oftentimes, people opt to leave some (or all) of their estate to a charity or organization that they support. If you choose to leave part of your estate to charity, not only does it benefit the charity, but it could help reduce the amount of estate taxes your heirs must pay on your estate. Deciding…
Understanding California’s Contractors’ License Laws
In California, the contractor (builder) cannot collect for work performed if he did so without a license, even if he completed the work and the homeowner received a benefit from the home improvement. This law is set forth in order to protect the public. If a contractor works without a license, there are substantial criminal…