Thinking about writing your will by hand? Think again. In this short episode, attorney Michael Pevney explains why handwritten wills (also called holographic wills) can leave your loved ones in years of conflict. Aretha Franklin’s estate turned into a courtroom battle after multiple handwritten wills were found hidden around her home.

Michael breaks down what went wrong, why handwritten wills are risky, and how you can protect your family by creating a proper estate plan.

You’ll learn:

• The problems with handwritten wills

• What happened in Aretha Franklin’s estate battle

• The difference between wills and trusts

• How to make sure your wishes are truly honored

📍 For California residents: Schedule your free estate planning strategy session at www.ocestateplanlawyer.com.

#EstatePlanning #LivingTrust #FillThatBucket #FinancialFreedom #Pevney #OrangeCounty

Adding a child to your deed or relying on a will feels “simple,” but it can spark tax shocks, creditor risk, and a long probate slog. In this quick episode, discover why a revocable living trust is the cleaner, court-free route:

• Joint tenancy pitfalls – capital-gains surprises, liability headaches, and frozen titles if a co-owner dies.

• Why wills still land heirs in probate – and how that drains time and cash.

• Trust = control + privacy – keep full authority while you’re alive, then transfer the house seamlessly when you’re gone.

🎯 California residents—lock in your FREE Estate Planning Strategy Session: calendly.com/mpevney/strategysession

ℹ️ More tools at ocestateplanlawyer.com

Can a non-relative inherit your house, bank account, or prized guitar collection? Absolutely—if you set things up the right way. In this 7-minute episode, California estate-planning attorney  explains:

• Why state law lets you leave assets to anyone—friend, partner, charity—if your documents are crystal-clear

• How joint ownership, beneficiary designations, and wills work (and where they fall short)

• The big advantages of a revocable living trust: privacy, probate avoidance, and airtight control—even if you’re disinheriting family members

• Key wording tips to prevent challenges when you choose non-traditional heirs

🎯 California residents—book your FREE Estate Planning Strategy Session: calendly.com/mpevney/strategysession

ℹ️ More resources at ocestateplanlawyer.com

#EstatePlanning #LivingTrust #FillThatBucket #Pevney #financialfreedom #orangecounty

Still holding a property in Grandma’s name years after she passed? That “do-nothing” approach can backfire fast. In this episode we unpack:

• How an un-transferred title drags the whole family into probate court—and keeps the judge in charge of who inherits what.

• The capital-gains hit waiting for heirs when a stepped-up basis clock never starts.

• Real-life stories of sibling feuds that erupt when no one knows who actually owns the house.

• The cleaner alternative: funding a revocable living trust so title passes instantly (and privately) to the next generation.

🎯 California listeners—claim your FREE Estate Planning Strategy Session: calendly.com/mpevney/strategysession

#EstatePlanning #LivingTrust #FillThatBucket #Pevney #financialfreedom #orangecounty

Think living trusts are only for parents? Think again. If you own California real estate or have assets worth roughly $100,000 or more, a revocable living trust lets you decide exactly who gets what—and spares your heirs (or favorite charities) from the slow, pricey probate process that kicks in when the state follows its own default rules.

You’ll hear: • how a trust keeps courts—and distant relatives—out of your legacy • real-world dollar thresholds where probate pain outweighs DIY savings • easy steps to fund the trust so every account and property follows your instructions. Bottom line: even without kids, a streamlined estate plan keeps your wealth on the path you choose.

🎯 California residents—grab your FREE Estate Planning Strategy Session: calendly.com/mpevney/strategysession

ℹ️ More resources at ocestateplanlawyer.com

#EstatePlanning #LivingTrust #FillThatBucket #Pevney #financialfreedom #orangecounty

Worried a lawsuit could wipe out everything you’ve built? In this value-packed episode, California estate-planning attorney Michael Pevney breaks down three proven layers of defense:

• Insurance, insurance, insurance – why an umbrella policy may be the cheapest million-dollar shield you’ll ever buy.

• Incorporate your business (or rentals) – how an LLC or S-Corp walls off personal assets and what goes wrong when people mingle funds.

• Offshore strategies for the 1 % – when exotic trusts make sense, and why most families can skip them.

You’ll also hear real-life cautionary tales—like teens crashing cars and landlords getting sued—and how a well-funded living trust keeps probate judges and creditors at bay.

🎯 California residents—book your FREE Estate Planning Strategy Session: calendly.com/mpevney/strategysession

ℹ️ More resources: ocestateplanlawyer.com

A solid living trust is the backbone of any complete estate plan—but what’s the smartest way to create one? In this bite-sized episode we compare the three routes open to Californians:

• Write it yourself. Great for legal-savvy DIYers, but one wrong clause can land your heirs in probate.

• Use an online/doc-prep service. Faster and cheaper than hiring counsel, yet still “assembly line” and often missing state-specific tweaks.

• Hire a qualified estate-planning attorney. The priciest option up front, but it custom-fits your family’s goals, plugs tax leaks, and keeps your plan court-proof.

We’ll walk through cost ranges, common pitfalls, and the key checkpoints—funding the trust, titling real estate, updating beneficiary designations—that make or break each approach.

🎯 California listeners—secure your FREE Estate Planning Strategy Session: calendly.com/mpevney/strategysession

ℹ️ Explore more resources at www.ocestateplanlawyer.com

Wondering if you should retitle your vehicle into your revocable living trust or just leave it under your own name? In this 10-minute episode we break down the three easy ways to move a car into a trust (full DMV retitle • simple personal-property assignment • listing it on your trust’s Schedule A) and explain when each route makes sense—especially for classics or high-value collectibles.

We also cover insurance and liability pitfalls, the trust-vs-will showdown for vehicle transfers, and why a properly funded trust can spare your heirs the hassle of California’s probate courts. Less paperwork, smoother insurance claims, and rock-solid protection if a teenager totals the car—tune in for the full roadmap.

🎯 California residents—book your FREE 30-minute Estate Planning Strategy Session: calendly.com/mpevney/strategysession

ℹ️ Learn more at www.ocestateplanlawyer.com

Can you just name one sibling as the “beneficiary” of your checking account and count on them to share the cash later? Technically—yes. Practically—prepare for drama. In this quick episode, we unpack the legal and family risks of relying on promises instead of your revocable living trust:

• Why “do-it-yourself” beneficiary shortcuts can sideline your true wishes

• How properly titling an account in your trust (or adding a pay-on-death tag that matches the trust) keeps probate and infighting at bay

• Real-world cautionary tales where a verbal “I’ll divide it” splintered relationships—and assets

🎯 California residents—lock in your FREE Estate Planning Strategy Session here: calendly.com/mpevney/strategysession

Leaving your house to the kids in a will sounds simple—but it drags them straight into California’s probate maze. And putting a child on the title? That move can trigger tax headaches and liability risks you never saw coming. In this episode, discover why a revocable living trust is the clean, court-free path for transferring your primary residence. We cover:

• How one deed change drops your home into the trust’s “bucket”

• Why joint ownership with a child can backfire—big time

• Key probate-avoidance tips that keep inheritances fast, private, and fee-light

🎯 California listeners—book your FREE Estate Planning Strategy Session here: calendly.com/mpevney/strategysession