Blog Posted By Randick O'Dea Tooliatos Vermont & Sargent LLP 26-May-2021 Is Your Business in Compliance for 2020? There are many laws and regulations with which businesses must comply, and the specific laws that are relevant to your company will depend on your industry, workforce, location, and other factors. Once you are confident you are in compliance, ... Continue Reading Posted By Randick O'Dea Tooliatos Vermont & Sargent LLP 5-Mar-2020 Should You Contest a Will? When a loved one passes away, you might have a good idea of how they chose to distribute their property in a will. In rare situations, however, the will is read, and certain beneficiaries are shocked at the choices of their loved one. Perhaps most of ... Continue Reading Posted By Randick O'Dea Tooliatos Vermont & Sargent LLP 5-Feb-2020 Do You Need to Update Your Estate Plan? When you make an estate plan, it is easy to feel secure that your affairs are in order and will be properly handled should you become incapacitated or pass away. However, many circumstances can change throughout your life, and a common mistake is ... Continue Reading Posted By Randick O'Dea Tooliatos Vermont & Sargent LLP 21-Nov-2019 Defending a Will in Probate When someone contests the validity of a will or certain provisions, it can cause many complications and delays in the probate process. If you are named as the executor of an estate, part of your duties include defending the will against attacks by ... Continue Reading Posted By Randick O'Dea Tooliatos Vermont & Sargent LLP 16-Oct-2019 Naming Your Business There are many steps to getting a successful startup off the ground. You need to select the right business entity and file the proper documents, obtain licenses and permits, find commercial real estate space (if necessary), and ensure you are in ... Continue Reading Posted By Randick O'Dea Tooliatos Vermont & Sargent LLP 21-Sep-2019 The Importance of Business Succession Planning Many people in California earn a living from their own businesses or business interests. While you might be focused on the success of your current operations, it is also important to consider what will happen to your business if you retire, pass ... Continue Reading Posted By Randick O'Dea Tooliatos Vermont & Sargent LLP 23-Aug-2019 Does an Executor Need Legal Representation During Probate? If someone named you as the executor of their will, it is common to wonder whether you need legal assistance after the testator passes away. You will need to locate the will and submit it to the probate court, after which the legal process will vary ... Continue Reading Posted By Randick O'Dea Tooliatos Vermont & Sargent LLP 22-Jul-2019 Estate Planning FAQ No one enjoys pondering the possibility of a serious illness, injury, or death. However, in order to best protect your family and what you have worked for during your life, you should always consider speaking with an experienced estate planning ... Continue Reading Posted By Randick O'Dea Tooliatos Vermont & Sargent LLP 17-Jun-2019 Civil Litigation FAQ The California civil court system handles many types of cases, from personal injury lawsuits to breach of contract claims, and many others. Each type of case will involve different state laws, different time limits, different burdens of proof, and ... Continue Reading Posted By Randick O'Dea Tooliatos Vermont & Sargent LLP 21-May-2019 Business Law FAQ Business owners regularly face a variety of legal concerns and questions, and it is common to wonder whether you need to contact a business lawyer in Pleasanton. The following are a few of the frequently asked questions we hear. To discuss a specific ... Continue Reading Posted By Randick O'Dea Tooliatos Vermont & Sargent LLP 15-Apr-2019 The Fiduciary Duty of a Trustee When you select someone as a successor trustee, you expect that person to handle your trust property in accordance with your wishes and to take proper care of your beneficiaries. However, since the successor trustee takes over after your death or if ... Continue Reading Posted By Randick O'Dea Tooliatos Vermont & Sargent LLP 22-Mar-2019 Merger of Randick O’Dea & Tooliatos, LLP and Randick O’Dea Tooliatos Vermont & Sargent of Castro Valley Alameda County, CA, March 21, 2019 — Randick O’Dea & Tooliatos, LLP of Pleasanton and Randick O’Dea Tooliatos Vermont & Sargent of Castro Valley are pleased to announce the merger of their firms, effective April 1, 2019. The ... Continue Reading Posted By Randick O'Dea Tooliatos Vermont & Sargent LLP 12-Mar-2019 Limit Your Liability as a Business Owner When you want to start a business, you have the right to simply begin operations without formally registering a business entity with the State of California. If you start operations alone, you will have a sole proprietorship, and a business started ... Continue Reading Posted By Randick O'Dea Tooliatos Vermont & Sargent LLP 28-Jan-2019 Do You Need a Business Lawyer? Many people believe that business attorneys are expensive and unnecessary. However, without the proper legal guidance, disputes, noncompliance, and unfavorable contracts can often cost your company much more in the long run. The reality is that ... Continue Reading Posted By Hannah Sargent 28-Oct-2016 What is Elder Law? Instead of being defined by a technical legal category, elder law attorneys are defined by the type of client they serve. As the name implies, elder law attorneys are advocates for the elderly and their loved ones, but they also serve disabled people ... Continue Reading Posted By Sargent Law Offices 1-Aug-2016 Selling a Home Owned by Your Late Parents Have you lived in your parents’ house your entire life? While that may be the one place you call home, it may not necessarily be yours to keep or sell after your parents pass away. Due to estate planning laws, the familiar home will still need ... Continue Reading Posted By Hannah Sargent 18-Dec-2015 Revocable Transfer on Death Deed The revocable transfer on death deed, California Probate Code Section 5600 et seq. goes into effect on January 1, 2016. It will take time to see how this new process will work, but here are the basics. Some ins and outs of the new California Probate ... Continue Reading Posted By Sargent Law Offices 18-Sep-2015 How to Undo a UTMA - Part II The last article discussed some common reasons people have for wanting to dissolve a Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) account set up in the past for their kids. Unfortunately, a UTMA is an irrevocable account and legally belongs to your child. ... Continue Reading Posted By Hannah Sargent 17-Sep-2015 How to Undo a UTMA Oftentimes, well-meaning parents or grandparents set up a custodial account for their child under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA), but later realize they should not have done so. What then? This article will discuss why you may regret ... Continue Reading Posted By Sargent Law Offices 14-Sep-2015 Hidden Dangers in Setting Aside Money for Young Children When you set aside large amounts of money for your young children to control, you are surely working on the best intentions. What could be wrong with a minor having so many finances? The truth is that there is a right and a wrong way to do something ... Continue Reading Posted By Sargent Law Offices 11-Sep-2015 Gifting Property Before Your Passing The main priority for many people who are entering their golden years is to create an estate plan, either through a will or a trust, which takes care of their friends, family, and loved ones. If you have already prepared for what will happen to your ... Continue Reading Posted By Sargent Law Offices 26-Aug-2015 Estate Planning Strategies for Blended Families A blended family (where one or more spouses have children from a previous marriage) presents some difficult estate planning issues, but the following strategies can greatly reduce the likelihood of unintended outcomes or bitter inter-family conflict. ... Continue Reading Posted By Sargent Law Offices 24-Aug-2015 Special Estate Planning Needs for Blended Families If you have a blended family, you are in the majority of families in America today, and you have some special estate planning considerations you must address if you want to ensure the best possible outcome for your loved ones. A blended family is ... Continue Reading Posted By Sargent Law Offices 8-Aug-2015 Beware! How Living Trust Mills Scam Clients One very important thing to be wary of when considering getting a living trust are trust sales companies, otherwise known as “trust mills.” These companies are often large organizations that sell living trusts and related documents at a ... Continue Reading Posted By Sargent Law Offices 7-Aug-2015 Beneficiaries, Bank Accounts & Wills: Making Sense of the Details Question : My father died many years ago. My mom died last month and my sister says that my mom’s bank account goes to her because she is the only listed beneficiary on the account. My mom’s will says that everything should be split three ... Continue Reading