In regard to wills, it is commonly thought that simply leaving an heir out of a will automatically disinherits that person. However, this isn’t necessarily applicable in all cases, as you’ll learn when you watch this video or consult a will lawyer near Tracy or Manteca. Spouses and children are direct heirs and California estate law presumes that wills are to include them.

This means that if a direct heir is left out of the will, the will may be contested in court and possibly declared invalid. To definitively prevent someone from inheriting part of the estate, it’s necessary to have an estate planning lawyer include a disinheritance clause in the will. There is no need to include a reason for the disinheritance.

Once you go through the process of estate planning in Tracy and complete your will, you then have to decide how to store it. Many people overlook this part of preparing a will, but it is crucial. Without proper storage, your will runs the risk of being damaged, lost, stolen or even unfound by your beneficiaries. Here are some of the storage options you can consider for your will.

Fireproof Safe

If you decide to store your will at home, then find some place with more protection than a standard file cabinet. A safe that is fireproof will protect your document in case of an incident in your home. A safe that is both fireproof and waterproof offers even more protection. Keep in mind that if you buy a standalone safe or even a fireproof lockbox that it could be easily stolen from your home. Having a safe that is built into your wall offers the best protection for storing your will at home. If you decide to keep your will at home, make sure your executor knows where to locate it in the event of your death.

Attorney’s Office

Some people choose to ask their attorneys to keep their original will documents. This solution is ideal if you know you will maintain a relationship with that attorney. Be sure your executor or your beneficiaries know which attorney is holding your will, particularly if you believe there is a chance you will not continue contact with the lawyer after your will is prepared. If you decide not to have your attorney keep the original draft of your will, ask that he or she keeps some copies, so that these are available should your original be lost.

Safety Deposit Box

Many people opt to keep their wills in safety deposit boxes, which are considered to be one of the most secure locations. Be sure to review the laws in your state for opening safety deposit boxes with your attorney. Most states require very specific documentation to open a box after someone’s death, so be sure your beneficiaries or executor will have the appropriate information to obtain the will.

If you are injured in an auto accident that wasn’t your fault, there are several different kinds of damages you may be eligible to receive. Your personal injury attorney in Tracy will examine the nature of your claim in detail to decide what kinds of damages are appropriate for your situation. Here are some of the different types of damages your attorney will consider when preparing your auto injury case.

Medical Expenses

When you have medical bills that are the result of your accident, you may be awarded damages that compensate you for your expenses. These expenses include both acute and long-term care you may need, including ambulance fees, surgery, physical therapy, and healing accessories such as crutches. You may also be awarded compensation to pay for in-home care, cognitive therapy, and other types of medical care that persist long after the accident. For instance, if a judge determines that you will need in-home care for the rest of your life after an accident, you could be awarded compensation to cover these future costs.

Pain and Suffering

If your attorney can prove that you suffered emotional or physical pain as a result of your accident, you may receive damages to compensate you for your discomfort. To award pain and suffering damages, the court will consider the extent of your injuries, including if you were left with a permanent disability or scarring, and the impact the accident has had on your life, such as the inability to return to your previous occupation because of your injury.

Lost Wages

Lost wages are awarded as damages when you are unable to work for a period of time due to the injuries sustained in the accident. When awarding lost wages, the court may also consider your inability to do the same kind of work, resulting in receiving a lower wage, and the time you have to take off from work for physical therapy or other treatments related to the injuries from your accident.

Dog bite cases fall into the category of personal injury cases. If you were injured by a dog bite, your personal injury lawyer in Tracy will help you determine the right party to pursue for damages. Generally, this is the dog’s owner.

Proving who should be held liable for a dog bite injury depends partly on state law. Some states hold owners responsible any time any animal bites someone, while other states only hold the owner accountable if he or she was aware that the animal was dangerous. In addition to the dog owner, animal keepers, landlords, property owners, and parents of minors who were in control of the dog during the bite incident can also be held responsible. In deciding whom to sue for damages, your lawyer must also plan a strategy that shows that you did not contribute to the incident with your behavior, such as ignoring a warning sign about the dog or acting aggressively towards the animal. If the other party can prove that you are at least partially liable for the bite, then your ability to receive damages may be compromised.

Executors are in charge of making sure that the final wishes included in wills are honored after someone has passed. They are usually trusted friends or family members of the deceased who are not going to benefit from the estate in some way. When you work with a lawyer in Tracy to complete your will, choosing an executor will be an important part of the process.

Watch this video to learn more about the role of the executor. Because the executor holds legal control of the estate, it is important to choose someone you trust implicitly. Your lawyer will answer all of your questions about estate administration to help you better understand the role so you can choose the right person.

A concussion is a possibility after any accident, so it is always wise to get examined by a doctor, even if you believe that you feel fine. If you do have a concussion, a personal injury lawyer in Tracy and Manteca can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Watch this video to find out how to recognize the symptoms of a concussion. Headaches, fatigue, mood swings, confusion, and personality changes can all indicate the presence of a concussion. Even minor head injures can lead to concussions, so if you’re hurt, get evaluated. Creating a record of your injury will help your attorney if you file a personal injury claim. Personal injury lawyers rely on these medical records to determine what type of damages are appropriate for their clients.

Your children aren’t the only beneficiaries that should be included in your will. You should also make provisions for your pets. Your lawyer in Tracy or Manteca can help you determine the best way to provide for your pet in your will and fit your plans for your estate into your larger estate planning goals.

There are two considerations to keep in mind when you making plans for your pets in your will. First, you need to decide who should take over care of your pets after your passing. You should determine who you would trust with the responsibility and then consider talking to him or her about your wishes before naming that person in your will. The second consideration is financial. Some people earmark part of their estates for their pets to offset the financial demands of their care, which can be helpful to person who takes them over when you pass away. Your lawyer can help you determine the appropriate way to make these provisions in your will.

When you approach a personal injury lawyer in Tracy or Livermore , one of the first things he or she will try to determine is the severity of your injuries. Most personal injury cases require the responsible party to make the other person whole again—in other words, the person who was injured should be not bear any of the financial responsibility for his or her accident. Permanent injuries, including scarring, are handled differently. These injuries are usually considered to be catastrophic injuries and require a much different approach from personal injury lawyers. Here is a closer look at how catastrophic injuries are handled in injury cases.

Basics of Catastrophic Injuries

Although there is no standard definition of catastrophic injuries, they are usually considered to be injuries that cause long-term or lifelong disability, disfigurement, or need for medical care. In most cases, catastrophic injuries prevent a person from returning to the work they did previously or leave them in need of home care aides or other medical assistance. For instance, someone who is paralyzed in an accident or suffered brain damage that prevents from him or her returning to his or her job would typically be considered catastrophic injuries. Disfigurement, such as scarring, may qualify as a catastrophic injury, depending on the severity.

Standard Personal Injury vs. Catastrophic Injury Cases

If your injury is catastrophic, your lawyer will approach your case differently. The awarded damages are typically significantly higher for these types of injuries, to offset loss of future income and the need for future medical care. As such, the evidence requirements are much more stringent, and your attorney will gather information from a variety of medical experts to prove the true nature of your disabilities and the kinds of care you need in the future. In some cases, personal injury lawyers rely on witnesses who are experts in projecting future income potential to show how the injury has affected earning power. This proof is necessary to ensure that victims with personal injuries receive the compensation they need to offset the costs of long-term care.

After someone passes away in Tracy or Livermore, the probate process can begin. Probate is the process of filing a petition with the court to admit the will into probate or, in the absence of a will, appointing an estate administrator. When wills enter probate, they are publicly accessible. The decedent’s assets are inventoried and then the assets are transferred from the decedent to the heirs.

When you watch this video, you’ll hear a little more about probate and why some people might wish to avoid it. Since wills that enter into probate are publicly accessible, some people wish to avoid probate due to privacy concerns. It is also possible that the will may be contested. If you have any concerns about probate, a lawyer who handles estate planning cases can help you.