011: What’s Up With Real Estate in the San Francisco Bay Area?
Release Date: 07/03/2018
168: Understanding Probate Part 2: What Exactly Is a Will?
Absolute Trust Talk
In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert continue their deep dive into probate fundamentals by focusing on wills. They clarify what makes a will legally valid, why a handwritten (or “wet ink”) signature is still required, and how witnesses play a key role in safeguarding the document’s authenticity. They also explore the differences between a holographic will and the more formal, witnessed variety. This insightful conversation offers a clearer view of one of the most essential components of the probate process. ...
info_outline
167: Understanding Probate: A Closer Look at the Personal Representative’s Duties
Absolute Trust Talk
In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe and Associate Attorney Ariana Flynn shine a light on the often misunderstood world of probate. They discuss why estate planners typically seek to avoid probate, the situations that make it unavoidable, and the key role of the personal representative—whether executor or administrator—in guiding the process. By exploring how the court appoints someone to oversee an estate, they underscore the importance of having a well-crafted plan in place. If you’ve ever wondered about the nuts and bolts of probate or questioned whether your own...
info_outline
166: Don't Fall for Disaster Scams: Tips to Safely Support Fire Relief Efforts
Absolute Trust Talk
In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten Howe and Jessica Colbert discuss the ongoing Los Angeles fires and offer practical advice on how to help victims without falling prey to scams. From identifying legitimate charities to safely navigating crowdfunding platforms, they outline actionable steps to ensure your generosity has a real impact. The episode also highlights essential disaster preparedness tips, including safeguarding your pets during emergencies. We’re thinking of everyone and hope you all stay vigilant, give wisely, and can help make a meaningful difference in times of...
info_outline
165: When ‘I Wish’ Isn’t Enough: Precatory Clauses and the Mangione Family Estate
Absolute Trust Talk
If you’ve been following the news lately, chances are you’ve heard of Luigi Mangione, the man at the center of recent headlines for allegedly shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. While the criminal case has drawn widespread attention, what caught our interest is a surprising detail about Mangione's personal life: he’s reportedly listed as a beneficiary in his wealthy grandmother’s estate. Even more intriguing, the will allegedly includes a precatory clause—or “wish language”—suggesting that beneficiaries charged with a felony could forfeit their inheritance. ...
info_outline
164: Shielding Your Legacy: How to Avoid Estate Litigation Pitfalls
Absolute Trust Talk
Welcome back to Absolute Trust Talk for Part 2 of our exciting deep dive into estate litigation with our associate attorney and former litigator, Ariana Flynn! In this episode, we’re exploring the steps you can take to prevent challenges to your estate plan after you’re gone. Ariana shares valuable insights from her experience, including how writing explanatory letters to explain tough decisions and how receiving a neuropsych evaluation can also make a difference. We also discuss how working closely with your estate planner can help protect your wishes, with tips on handling co-trustees...
info_outline
163: Courthouse Confessions: Inside Trust and Estate Litigation
Absolute Trust Talk
In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, managing attorney Kirsten Howe welcomes associate attorneys Jessica Colbert and Ariana Flynn to discuss common issues in trust and estate litigation. Drawing from her experience as a litigator, Ariana highlights three major themes that often arise in family disputes over estates: undue influence, lack of capacity, and complex family dynamics. These challenges can lead to costly and emotional battles over a loved one's assets, making it crucial for individuals to understand the potential pitfalls. Tune in to hear valuable insights on how to navigate...
info_outline
162: Untangling Community vs. Separate Property Issues in Estate Planning (Part 2)
Absolute Trust Talk
In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe welcomes back accomplished estate planning attorney and litigation expert Ruth Kohler Burke for part two of their deep dive into community vs. separate property in estate planning. Together, they unravel the complexities of property characterization and highlight how proper planning can save you from expensive, stressful situations. From intestacy horror stories to blended family challenges, Ruth shares real-world examples and valuable insights gained from her 25+ years of experience, including representing Fortune 500 companies....
info_outline
161: What’s Yours, Mine, and Ours? Untangling Community vs. Separate Property in Estate Planning
Absolute Trust Talk
In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe is joined by the accomplished Ruth Koller Burke, Partner at Koller Herlihy LLP, whose 25+ years of experience span estate planning, trust administration, and probate litigation. Ruth’s dual expertise as both an estate planner and litigator—gained through years of representing Fortune 500 companies and managing high-stakes family dynamics—brings an invaluable perspective to this discussion. Together, Kirsten and Ruth dive deep into the complexities of community and separate property in estate planning. From clarifying...
info_outline
160: Celebrity Probate Case Files: O.J. Simpson
Absolute Trust Talk
In this special Absolute Trust Talk episode, Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert step into the captivating world of celebrity estates, taking a closer look at the probate of O.J. Simpson. Unlike traditional probates, where assets are distributed to heirs, O.J.'s estate paints a very different picture—one dominated by overwhelming debts, including a $117 million judgment. From the auctioning of memorabilia to an intriguing home equity dispute, this episode uncovers the complexities faced by executors in balancing creditors' claims and legal obligations. Whether you're a...
info_outline
159: Trustees' Checklist: Essential Notices You Can't Afford to Miss
Absolute Trust Talk
Trustees, are you confident you’ve completed all your legal responsibilities? This final, crucial question is one every trustee should ask—but the answer is rarely simple. In this episode of Absolute Trust Talk, host Kirsten Howe and associate attorney Jessica Colbert delve into the often-overlooked legal notices trustees are required to send before making final distributions. They discuss the critical 120-day notice to trust beneficiaries and heirs, informing them of their rights to contest the trust. They also cover essential notifications to the Department of Health Care Services and...
info_outlineIn episode eleven of Absolute Trust Talk, Kirsten welcomes award-winning Remax Accord Real Estate Broker Mark Shaw into the studio. Mark has been serving Contra Costa and Alameda Counties for more than 19 years and, even though he spent some time as a teacher, you could say his career started back in the 60’s & 70’s when he was helping his father pass out flyers and set up open house signs.
Mark is well-versed in the San Francisco Bay Area real estate market, and Kirsten wastes no time digging in. During this podcast, Mark and Kirsten discuss why buying and selling in the Bay Area is so unusual right now and how the cash purchase of a home is influencing the marketplace.
Later, Mark weighs in on some surprising statistics and trends that are influencing aspects of the local market, and also, shares some advice to sellers on some essential tasks that need to be done before putting your home on the market. Download this resource here!
Big Three From Episode #011:
What the clients are thinking:
- Can I trust you?
- Are you good at what you do?
- Do you care about my needs and me?
Time-stamped Show Notes:
2:00 – What is making the San Francisco Bay Area real estate market so high? Can a seller name their price?
3:12 – The average buyer spends this much time searching for homes before they contact a realtor.
3:40 – Does the amount of cash buyers have to spend on housing distort the market?
6:15 – Why the number of years people are staying in their homes (not moving) is increasing.
8:30 – What are the main reasons people move?
11:40 – How is the buyer’s market trending?
16:42 – This is a huge determining factor in real estate sales.
22:11 – In the current market. what do sellers have to do to get their house sold?
26:14 – It might seem all dollars and cents, but home buying has much more to do with this.
Episode #011 Freebie: 13 Top Tips for Home Maintenance and Safety
Taking care of a property can be a lot of work, and some maintenance issues will obviously take priority over others. However, when it comes to your home’s safety, there are easy, low-cost, DIY projects we neglect because they are either not at the top of the list or not top of mind. Absolute Trust Talk guest Mark Shaw has generously offered to share his resource “13 Top Tips for Home Maintenance and Safety” to ATT’s audience. Shaw created this resource to be a tool to simplify target issues and help you focus on simple, common-sense tasks to keep your home safe. He has broken these projects down so they are easy to commit to doing one or two per month to maintain a safe home environment.