Probate Notes: Your Guide to Navigating California Probate Law

R. Sam Price

Welcome to Probate Notes, your go-to podcast for navigating the complexities of California probate law. Hosted by R. Sam Price, a seasoned probate attorney, Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, and author of The 6-Stage Probate Process, this podcast breaks down probate practice with expert insights, practical strategies, and real-world solutions for attorneys, paralegals, fiduciaries, and professionals in the probate industry. Each episode dives into key topics, from foundational probate concepts to advanced litigation strategies, helping you master the nuances of probate practice. Whether it's fixing court examiner deficiencies, tackling probate litigation, or staying ahead of legislative updates, you'll get actionable guidance to streamline your cases and elevate your expertise. Expect guest interviews with top probate attorneys, fiduciaries, and legal experts, as well as a dedicated segment answering listener questions. Whether you're a seasoned probate attorney or just starting in the field, Probate Notes will help you navigate probate with confidence, clarity, and efficiency. 🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. Submit your questions and be part of the conversation!

  1. 5 days ago

    063: Probate Home Sales and Family Conflict with Scott Stollar

    An inherited home can be both an asset and a source of family stress. REALTOR® Scott Stollar discusses what it takes to prepare and sell real estate during California probate, from securing a vacant property to handling tenants or heirs who live there. We cover lock changes, neighbor communication, garage door security, notice periods, lease obligations, fair rent, and possible cash-for-keys agreements.  Scott stresses that grief can shape decisions and family conflict: its stages are not linear, and roles as helper, harmed person, or aggressor can shift. Listening with patience and compassion can help relatives make progress.  The conversation also explains why escrows fall apart, how agents can reconnect with backup buyers, and how inspection concerns, market time, and solar agreements can affect a sale. Listeners will gain a picture of the property, people, and paperwork issues to plan for when an estate home is sold. In this episode, you will hear: Securing vacant probate properties Managing tenants and heirs living in the home Grief and family dynamics during probate Responding to canceled escrows and buyer concerns Investor offers and property marketing Solar agreements, liens, and sale complications Resources from this Episode Inherited Home Resources (all of my free guides and tools in one place): https://sellitscott.com/inherited-home-resources/ Successor Trustee Checklist: https://sellitscott.com/successor-trustee-checklist/ Website: https://sellitscott.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sellitscott LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-stollar-720602210 The 6-Stage Probate Process: How to Navigate California Probate: https://a.co/d/82310Rw  Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

    063: Probate Home Sales and Family Conflict with Scott Stollar

  2. 20 Oct

    062: Kevin Porter on Legal Ethics, Integrity, and Building a Respected Legal Career

    Can a lawyer build a lasting reputation without acting like an attack dog? Kevin Porter says yes: preparation, honesty, and professional advocacy matter more than theatrics. In this conversation, Porter traces his path from a phone company to law school and a Victorville practice he joined in 1993. He reflects on decades of general practice, community service, and the relationships built through coaching basketball, Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, and supporting a local charter school.  Porter explains that admitting mistakes, keeping promises to clients and the court, and treating opposing counsel respectfully help protect credibility. He also shares how personal experience shaped his empathy for families facing difficult circumstances, and why family law eventually became emotionally draining.  For new attorneys, his advice is to find work suited to their interests, seek a trusted mentor, and learn how judges and court staff view prospective firms. In this episode, you will hear: Community service through coaching, Rotary, and school leadership Integrity, honesty, and a professional reputation in legal practice Empathy for clients facing family and personal hardships Advice for new attorneys on finding a practice fit and mentor Learning about a firm's reputation from judges and court staff Resources from this Episode https://cklaw.net/  The 6-Stage Probate Process: How to Navigate California Probate: https://a.co/d/82310Rw  Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second, and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

    062: Kevin Porter on Legal Ethics, Integrity, and Building a Respected Legal Career

  3. 13 Oct

    061: Managing a Trust Portfolio with Jeremy Lau

    A trust can lose money through poor planning even when markets rise. That concern anchors our conversation with investment adviser Jeremy Lau about trust administration. Lau explains how trustees should assess beneficiaries' needs, expenses, liquidity, risk tolerance, taxes, and fees before deciding how to invest assets.  We discuss why liquid investments matter, how trustees can work with professional advisers, and warning signs deserving review. Lau recommends checking an adviser's record and judging returns against an appropriate benchmark, not headlines or a stock index. He explains performance attribution and the risks of speculative requests. Listeners will come away with a sense of how investment guidelines can help trustees make and explain decisions in beneficiaries' interests and answer beneficiary questions clearly. Jeremy L. Lau serves as the CEO of Prudent Investors. He frequently speaks on investment management and financial planning to professional fiduciaries and trust and estate attorneys around the country. Jeremy regularly advises fiduciaries on managing their clients' assets and financial planning needs and also works with estate litigators as a financial expert witness. Before Prudent Investors, he worked in senior roles in the investment banking industry in Tokyo and Hong Kong. He graduated in Accounting from Brigham Young University and has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designations. In this episode, you will hear: Fiduciary duties under the Uniform Prudent Investor Act Matching investment risk to beneficiaries' needs Planning for special needs trust expenses and liquidity Spotting portfolio and financial adviser red flags Choosing fair benchmarks and reviewing performance Using an investment policy statement to guide decisions Resources from this Episode https://www.prudentinvestors.com  The 6-Stage Probate Process: How to Navigate California Probate: https://a.co/d/82310Rw  Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

    061: Managing a Trust Portfolio with Jeremy Lau

  4. 6 Oct

    060: Estate Planning and Wealth Management Under One Roof With Sanford M. Fisch

    Our conversation with Sanford M. Fisch, CEO and co‑founder of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys and American Academy Wealth, LLC, focuses on building an estate planning firm that actually works as a business. We talk with Sandy about his path from tax specialist at Coopers and Lybrand to reshaping estate planning with Robert Armstrong and the systems thinking inspired by The E‑Myth. We walk through the Academy's paint‑by‑numbers approach to marketing, community workshops, and client meetings, and why attorneys often struggle to implement systems on their own. Sandy explains how Academy membership, coaching, and twice‑yearly summits support solos and small firms as they grow. We also cover his books The E‑Myth Attorney and The Enterprise Model Law Firm, and how integrating wealth management through American Academy Wealth helps attorneys deepen client relationships and create recurring revenue, while giving families a single, coordinated point of contact for planning and investments. In this episode, you will hear: How The E Myth inspired systematized law practice management Lead generation systems for estate planners, including community workshops The importance of following proven systems and avoiding "academy drift" What the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys provides to members Structure and purpose of the Academy's biannual summits The Enterprise Law Firm Model and integrating wealth management for recurring revenue Resources from this Episode https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-academy-of-estate-planning-attorneys/  https://www.facebook.com/AmericanAcademyOfEstatePlanningAttorneys  https://www.aaepa.com/  https://www.instagram.com/estate_planning_academy/  The 6-Stage Probate Process: How to Navigate California Probate: https://a.co/d/82310Rw  Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

    060: Estate Planning and Wealth Management Under One Roof With Sanford M. Fisch

  5. 29 Sept

    059: Probate Attorney and REALTOR® Strategies for Grief, Conflict, and Fair Buyouts With Scott Stollar

    Grief, sibling tension, and a house full of memories collide when a parent dies, and that is where we start. We talk with REALTOR® Scott Stoller, founder of SellItScott and a C.A.R. Certified Probate and Trust Specialist, about what really happens when heirs inherit a home in California probate.  We explore the five stages of grief and how timeline, money pressure, and different views on value can quickly fuel conflict. We share how professionals can approach the process with curiosity, not a rigid playbook, to help heirs feel heard while still protecting the property's equity. We also cover options for a child who wants to keep the home, including financing, debt-to-income realities, FHA possibilities, reverse mortgages, and Prop 19 tax implications.  Listeners learn how to guide clients through emotionally charged decisions with clarity, compassion, and grounded expectations. In this episode, you will hear: How grief, memories, and family history show up when heirs inherit a home Common conflict patterns between siblings over timelines, money, and selling vs keeping the house The five stages of grief and how they affect decision-making around the estate Professional strategies to keep heirs heard, informed, and focused on clear options Disputes over property value and how condition, market rates, and buyer demand factor in Financing paths for an heir who wants to keep the home, including DTI and FHA options Special issues with reverse mortgages and Prop 19 for long-term affordability Resources from this Episode Inherited Home Resources (all of my free guides and tools in one place): https://sellitscott.com/inherited-home-resources/ Successor Trustee Checklist: https://sellitscott.com/successor-trustee-checklist/ Website: https://sellitscott.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sellitscott LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-stollar-720602210 The 6-Stage Probate Process: How to Navigate California Probate: https://a.co/d/82310Rw  Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

    059: Probate Attorney and REALTOR® Strategies for Grief, Conflict, and Fair Buyouts With Scott Stollar

  6. 22 Sept

    058: How Law Firms Can Use Full-Time Virtual Assistants to Handle Intake, Drafting, and Litigation Support with Matthew Crider

    Hiring help does not have to blow up your margins or your sanity. We hear how estate planning attorney Matthew Crider turned early frustrations with outsourced reception and bookkeeping into a deliberate system for working with virtual assistants, and eventually into co-founding Traba Legal. He and Sam walk through the real cost pressures of hiring in California, the challenges of finding qualified local staff, and why overseas VAs can be a strong fit for law firms when handled thoughtfully.  Listeners learn how to think through the right first role for a VA, how to integrate remote team members into firm culture, and how a clear hiring and management structure can free lawyers to focus on higher‑value legal work. In this episode, you will hear: Cost pressures and hiring challenges for small California law firms Moving from agencies and platforms to directly managed virtual assistants Why Traba Legal focuses on full-time VAs based in the Philippines Traba Legal's five-step vetting and skills testing process for candidates Building culture and accountability with remote team members through daily huddles and meetings Resources from this Episode https://trabalegal.com https://legacylawsolutions.net/matthew-crider The 6-Stage Probate Process: How to Navigate California Probate: https://a.co/d/82310Rw  Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

    058: How Law Firms Can Use Full-Time Virtual Assistants to Handle Intake, Drafting, and Litigation Support with Matthew Crider

  7. 15 Sept

    057: Understanding the Uniform Prudent Investor Act with Jeremy Lau

    Sam Price sits down with Jeremy Lau of Prudent Investors to unpack what happens the moment a successor trustee inherits an investment portfolio. Most fiduciaries know they have a job to do. Few understand the Uniform Prudent Investor Act actually governs how they do it, from diversification to tax sensitivity to monitoring costs that never show up on a brokerage statement. Jeremy walks through the hidden expense ratios buried inside mutual funds, why a trading program with hundreds of tiny positions can quietly balloon trust accounting fees into the tens of thousands, and what separates a financial advisor who protects a fiduciary from one who leaves them exposed. He also breaks down risk tolerance as two distinct factors, not one, and explains why an investment policy statement matters more than most successor trustees realize. This episode hands fiduciaries a checklist they didn't know they needed. In this episode, you will hear: What a successor trustee actually inherits when a settlor passes away The Uniform Prudent Investor Act and why it applies to fiduciaries, not financial advisors Risk tolerance as two separate factors, ability and willingness, not one Hidden costs inside mutual funds and ETFs that never appear on a brokerage statement How a trading program with hundreds of tiny positions can balloon trust accounting fees Why an investment policy statement protects a fiduciary who delegates investment decisions What to look for when choosing a financial advisor to manage trust assets Resources from this Episode https://www.prudentinvestors.com The 6-Stage Probate Process: How to Navigate California Probate: https://a.co/d/82310Rw  Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

    057: Understanding the Uniform Prudent Investor Act with Jeremy Lau

  8. 9 Sept

    056: Isolation, Undue Influence, and Elder Financial Abuse with Tim Abrahams

    Tim Abrahams, a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff's investigator who now runs Silver Bison Consulting, joins Sam Price to unpack how elder financial abuse actually unfolds. Tim spent years chasing fraud and title theft cases, and he explains why so many families get turned away at the police counter with the words "this is a civil matter." That single phrase, he says, has let countless cases die before they ever reach a detective's desk. Tim walks through the real patterns behind these crimes: isolation, sudden spending spikes, forged deeds, stolen notary stamps. He shares specific case details, including a stolen vacant lot sold through a fake ID, and explains how his reports help families get law enforcement to actually listen. Families dealing with suspected elder abuse will find a clear roadmap here, straight from someone who investigated these cases for thirty years. In this episode, you will hear: Tim Abrahams' path from LA County Sheriff's investigator to founding Silver Bison Consulting Why "this is a civil matter" sends so many elder abuse cases nowhere The common thread in these cases isolation from family and friends How caretakers escalate from small withdrawals to full financial control Red flags in bank records, deed transfers, and sudden spending changes A real case involving a stolen notary stamp and a fraudulent property sale How Tim builds reports that give families a real shot with law enforcement Resources from this Episode The 6-Stage Probate Process: How to Navigate California Probate: https://a.co/d/82310Rw  silverbison.net linkedin.com/in/timothy-abrahams-666309288/ Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com. Let them know we sent you.

    056: Isolation, Undue Influence, and Elder Financial Abuse with Tim Abrahams
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About

Welcome to Probate Notes, your go-to podcast for navigating the complexities of California probate law. Hosted by R. Sam Price, a seasoned probate attorney, Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, and author of The 6-Stage Probate Process, this podcast breaks down probate practice with expert insights, practical strategies, and real-world solutions for attorneys, paralegals, fiduciaries, and professionals in the probate industry. Each episode dives into key topics, from foundational probate concepts to advanced litigation strategies, helping you master the nuances of probate practice. Whether it's fixing court examiner deficiencies, tackling probate litigation, or staying ahead of legislative updates, you'll get actionable guidance to streamline your cases and elevate your expertise. Expect guest interviews with top probate attorneys, fiduciaries, and legal experts, as well as a dedicated segment answering listener questions. Whether you're a seasoned probate attorney or just starting in the field, Probate Notes will help you navigate probate with confidence, clarity, and efficiency. 🎧 Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms. Submit your questions and be part of the conversation!

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