Law Offices of Ron Marquez

If you’ve signed up for an IRA , 401K, or any life insurance policy, you must’ve come across a beneficiary designation document. The name you put in these forms makes an impact on all the decisions regardless of your intentions or any will. To make sure that your highly valuable assets are handed over to your loved ones, here’s a list of common mistakes you must avoid. Not Reviewing the Beneficiary Form Life can take turns in the blink of an eye. You can’t be too sure that your beneficiary designation form is named after your spouse or any other family member. To make sure that the beneficiary form isn’t outdated, you must review it annually or at least after any life-changing event like marriage, childbirth, divorce, or death. You wouldn’t want anyone else to benefit from your inheritance. Regularly reviewing your form also allows you to make any changes in distributing your assets while you’re alive. Moreover, in case a company has lost your beneficiary form, you’d be able...

Did you know that around 12,000 newborn babies live with a single parent in the US? Ever wondered how these parents get custody of the child? In many cases, separated or divorced parents struggle to get custody of their child. However, hiring a professional child custody lawyer can ease many of the problems they will inevitably encounter. Although a few cases are settled via mutual agreement between parents, certain situations require professional advice and an adequate skill set to fight for child custody. Here are some situations where you simply must hire a child custody lawyer. When the Security of Your Child is Endangered If you feel that your child is unprotected at their other parent’s home, or the living conditionsare unsuitable for their upbringing, then you should connect with a lawyer to get custody of your child. An experienced lawyer will not only evaluate the circumstances of the situation but will also work toward an urgent solution from the court. One of ...

 As long as you’re not about to commit a criminal offense or perjury, any information you share with your lawyer is protected under attorney-client privilege . No matter how sensitive, your divorce lawyer needs to know every relevant tidbit about you to properly represent you. Here’s what you should share with your legal rep during a divorce. 1.   Hidden Financials Any debt, property—liquid or otherwise—will see the light of day during your divorce proceedings. These financials have a paper trail that can be traced back to you during an investigation, so make sure your lawyer doesn’t find out about them along with everyone else. Your attorney can only contest a case until they know what they’re defending, and if it turns out that you’ve been concealing offshore accounts or massive debts, the court may end up deciding a more expensive fate for you. 2.   Sexually Transmitted Diseases A sexually transmitted disease (STD) isn’t exactly something anyone wants to talk...

Regardless of where they’re living, every adult should set up their desired estate planning method  early and update it from time to time. Estate planning can be done in California through wills or trusts. Here’s a closer look: An Introduction to Wills Under California Law California recognizes the following three types of wills: 1.  Attested Wills When most people think of a will , this is the type they’re usually thinking of. This will is designed to meet individual requirements by including specific provisions and terms. An attested will is prepared by a wills and trusts attorney in Chico . They’re typed, not handwritten, and require the presence of at least two disinterested witnesses. A disinterested witness is one who doesn’t benefit from the terms of the wills. The name comes from the ‘attestation clause’ that’s signed by the witnesses. 2.  Statutory Wills Statutory wills are prewritten wills that are part of the state law. California residents may use a statutory ...

Even when the divorce proceedings are amicable, it can be difficult to completely put aside feelings of bitterness or resentment  towards your ex-spouse. This can create many obstacles for divorced parents who have a joint custody agreement to take care of their children. Although custody exchanges can be a great point to communicate with your ex, things can also go south pretty quickly when the parents don’t get along. Keep reading for some tips on how you can keep child custody exchanges cordial. 1. Prepare for the Exchange It’s important that before your children leave, they have everything packed and ready to go by the time your ex comes to pick them up. Create a list of all the items that the children need, such as medications, school work, toys, clothes, and study materials. This can help keep things organized at the time of the exchange. If you have everything ready, it can minimize the contact you have with your ex by taking some time off the swap and easing tensions. 2. Ch...

Truck accidents are quite common, but from a liability perspective, they’re quite complicated . Therefore, every driver must be proactive in defending their interests. Compared to car accidents, truck accidents are very different. Why? Because injuries in the latter are severe, and the damage to vehicles and property is way more devastating and widespread. Since a truck accident is a serious and complex matter, there’s an urgent need for representation. It’s an emergency, and preparation is important. Drivers should know what to do when they’re on the scene. Here’s our guide to two things you should do if you’re a victim of a truck wreck. 1. Contact the police This is the first thing you should do if you’re a victim of a truck wreck. You should alert the local or state law enforcement officers about the vehicle accident that has resulted in considerable property damage or an injury. The presence of police is of critical importance because they’ll investigate how the accident was caused...

Deaths often embody the range of challenges associated with legal processes. While losing a loved one is emotionally grueling enough, the legal issues that tend to follow it, like sorting out inheritance can add to an already difficult time. Before you get to sorting the inheritance issue, you’ll have to go through the probate process  (petitioning a court to designate you the representative of an estate). While the process is fairly straightforward, it can take a bit of time, and complications can arise, which is why it’s recommended you seek an experienced probate lawyer’s service. We’ve prepared this piece with a primer on what to expect from a probate lawyer. Cost While attorneys in most states collect a flat fee or charge by the hour for probate work, this isn’t the case in California. California’s one of the few states that allow lawyers to charge a “statutory fee”—a certain percentage of the value of the assets that undergo the probate process. These percentages are set ou...