Many clients do not think about probate until they have already lost a loved one. Even then, they may mistakenly think that probate is a quick, simple formality. Once they learn that probate can be expensive, stressful, and time-consuming, many clients have the same question: How much does it cost? What Factors Influence Probate Costs and Estate Fees in California? Logically, it might seem like probate costs should be based […]
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KJMLAW Partners, PLC Partner Kevin J. Moore will join a panel of tax and estate planning practitioners at the 63rd Annual Hawaii Tax Institute in Honolulu on November 17, 2026, discussing integrated planning strategies for individuals and families with concentrated wealth. Moore returns to the Hawaii Tax Institute (HTI) as a panelist for the 2026 conference, joining Joshua Driskell, Managing Partner at Lagerlof, and Michael Feispor, Tax Principal/Partner at EY. […]
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Picture this: A mother dies. She has three adult children. In the last 10 months of her life, she had a stroke, became more dependent, and one of her daughters moved in to help take care of her (handled doctors, bills, and the house). A few weeks before her death, the mother signed a new restatement of her revocable trust that named only the caregiver daughter as the sole successor […]
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KJMLAW Partners, PLC founding partner Kevin J. Moore will make his first appearance as a speaker at the 52nd Annual Notre Dame Tax & Estate Planning Institute, one of the nation’s leading educational programs for tax and estate planning professionals. The Institute will take place October 28–30, 2026, on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Kevin will present on Internal Revenue Code Sections 2036 and 2038, with a focus on […]
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Real estate is often the most valuable asset in an estate and the most emotional. A family home can carry decades of memories alongside significant financial worth. That combination of sentiment and money is exactly why inherited real estate so often becomes the flashpoint for probate litigation. As a probate litigation attorney, I see the same patterns repeated across very different families. Understanding why these disputes happen, and how to […]
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Most people who agree to serve as a trustee or executor say yes for personal reasons. A parent asked, or a sibling did, or the will simply named them and nobody gave it much thought at the time. What tends to catch people off guard is how much of the job turns out to be tax work, and how little room there is for error once you’re in the middle […]
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KJMLAW Partners is proud to announce that partners Kevin J. Moore, LL.M. and Debby D. Doitch, Esq. have been selected to the 2027 Southern California Super Lawyers list, while associate attorneys Lilit Arabyan, Joseph Castro, and Susie C. Grigoryan have been named to the 2027 Southern California Rising Stars list. Super Lawyers recognizes attorneys who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process combines […]
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In my previous article, When Trustees in High Net Worth Estates Need Professional Help, I discussed why administering high net worth (HNW) and ultra high net worth (UHNW) trusts often requires the support of a team of experienced professionals rather than relying on a single individual acting alone. The fiduciary responsibilities involved were explored, along with the reasons why these types of estates generally require a fundamentally different approach than […]
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Complex trust administration and conservatorship matters often require the coordinated efforts of attorneys, professional fiduciaries, and real estate professionals. When these disciplines work together effectively, families, beneficiaries, and the courts benefit from clearer communication, informed decision-making, and more efficient case resolution. KJMLAW Partners is pleased to announce that Partner Debby Doitch, Esq. will join Condra K. Griffin, CLPF, NCG, of FID Care Group, LLC, and Justin Fautsch, Co-Founder of Vimvi […]
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We’re proud to share that Kevin J. Moore, Founding Partner of KJMLAW Partners, has been invited to present at a national CLE/CPE webinar focused on U.S.-Germany tax planning for individuals and families with financial or personal ties to both countries. The session, hosted by BARBRI, will take place on Thursday, August 27, 2026. If you or your family have income, property, retirement accounts, or business interests connecting the United States […]
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As passionate business owners who pour love and energy into their business, have you ever paused in the midst of your busy day – managing employees, delegating work, marketing, and handling countless other responsibilities – to wonder what would happen if you needed to slow down, or if you were no longer around? More importantly, you probably want to preserve all the hard work, time, and money you invested, and […]
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If you’re like most high earners, you may have realized that as your income and wealth increase, so does the complexity of your taxes. No one likes to get a surprise bill at tax time, which is why strong financial management and careful planning are so important. When it comes to managing your tax liability and protecting your wealth, the key is to be proactive in your planning, not reactive. […]
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Trust administration is its own discipline — one with legal obligations, procedural requirements, and standards of care that catch even seasoned professionals off guard. Managing money, running a business, and navigating complexity does not always prepare you for the challenges of administering a trust. A trustee who has managed significant assets throughout their career naturally expects that trust administration will feel familiar. The instinct to rely on existing knowledge and […]
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KJMLAW Partners was honored to participate in and support the Colleen Williams 29th Charity Golf Tournament benefiting Casa Treatment Center for Women, on June 6. As supporters of Casa’s mission, we were proud to join fellow community members and sponsors in helping raise awareness and support for the organization’s important work serving women in recovery. KJMLAW Partners Foursome Claims First Place at the 29th Colleen Williams Tournament Congratulations to our foursome […]
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KJMLAW Partners PLC, a California trusts and estates law firm, regularly works with professional fiduciaries as part of its broader practice in probate, trust administration, conservatorships, and litigation. The firm was proud to sponsor and attend the 31st Annual PFAC Educational Conference in Sacramento, one of California’s premier events for professional fiduciaries, trust and estate attorneys, estate planning professionals, conservators, guardians, and industry leaders. The conference provided a valuable forum […]
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When it comes to their parents’ estate planning, siblings can be supportive. Even so, undue influence claims are always a concern when an older adult is creating a will or otherwise deciding how their assets will be distributed after their death. If one sibling manipulates their parents into changing their estate plan, they may have exerted undue influence. Proving undue influence can be challenging, which is why courts in California […]
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As wealth grows, estate planning often shifts from relatively straightforward asset protection and distribution planning to more complex questions about estate taxes, business ownership, legacy goals, and the preservation of wealth across generations. The right approach depends not only on the size of an estate but also on family dynamics, financial priorities, and the long-term vision behind the plan especially when comparing high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth estates. How Do High-Net-Worth and […]
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Casa Treatment Center for Women in Pasadena is recognized as one of the nation’s leading treatment centers for addiction recovery, offering a wide range of professional care services and support for women. KJMLAW Partners is proud to sponsor the 29th Annual Colleen Williams Charity Golf Tournament benefiting Casa Treatment Center on June 6, 2026. We look forward to bringing a strong team to support their deeply important work in serving, […]
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KJMLAW Partners is proud to sponsor the 31st Annual Professional Fiduciary Association of California (PFAC) Educational Conference taking place May 27–30, 2026, in Sacramento. As part of the conference program, Debby Doitch will present alongside Mary Thornton House, Ana Maria Luna, and Sarah Broomer on the panel: Capacity Clash: Navigating the Interplay of Roles and Conflict in Fiduciary Practice. The presentation will take place on May 29, 2026, at 3:15 […]
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Even if you know that you’re one of the beneficiaries of a loved one’s estate, it can take several months (and sometimes even a year or more) to receive the assets that were left to you. But if the person managing the estate mishandles the assets within it, you could be waiting much longer. If you think the executor or administrator of a decedent’s estate is mismanaging the assets within […]
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