Class recorded April 1, 2020

An appeal is very different from trial court proceedings. There are many misconceptions about how appeals work and what the appellate courts will consider.  Learn what an appeal is, the steps to take to appeal a trial court decision and the importance of the concept of harmful, judicial error.

Class covers:

• Appellate court structure
• How the appellate court reviews the trial court’s decision
• Steps to appeal
• The limits of appellate review
• Designating the record

Presented by:

David Axelrad (http://www.horvitzlevy.com/david-m-axelrad), Certified Specialist, Appellate Law, Horvitz & Levy LLP 

Course Materials: If you would like to receive a copy of the course materials for any of the classes, including any PowerPoint used, please register at the Register Now! button for the class, provided below. A staff member will email you the course materials (usually within one business day).

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice.  LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service.  The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons.  For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

During Pro Bono Week only, if you attend an online class and still have a question related to the content of that class, you can submit your question online and it will be answered by our team of expert law librarians or the class instructor. Simply watch your class to the end and then follow the instructions on the final slide to submit your question online.

Class recorded March 1, 2024

For updated information on estate planning in California, including the current dollar limit for small estates, click here and here.

Planning for the end of life, illness or disability is complicated, and it’s hard to know where to start. Preparing proper legal documentation now, while you are still able, can protect your loved ones financially and emotionally in case of death or incapacity. This class provides you with the legal basics, including the different ways of ensuring that your money and property pass to your heirs the way you want and with as little trouble and expense as possible (wills and trusts), plus the options available to make sure you receive the medical treatment you want at the end of life (advanced health care directives). You will also learn about free resources available to help. Learning important legal fundamentals about wills, trusts and advanced health care planning can make your legal journey easier and more successful.

Class covers:

• The importance of writing a will and/or creating a trust
• Pros and cons of trusts vs. wills, and why you might need both
• Do-it-yourself estate planning vs. hiring a lawyer
• What probate is, and how to help your heirs avoid it
• Different types of trusts, and when each is appropriate
• Advanced health care directives: how to make sure you receive the medical treatment you want during severe illness or end of life

Presented By: Crystal Hayes Hill, My Legal Team (https://www.mylegalteamla.com/)

Course Materials: If you would like to receive a copy of the course materials for any of the classes, including any PowerPoint used, please register at the Register Now! button for the class, provided below. A staff member will email you the course materials (usually within one business day).

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice.  LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service.  The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons.  For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

During Pro Bono Week only, if you attend an online class and still have a question related to the content of that class, you can submit your question online and it will be answered by our team of expert law librarians or the class instructor. Simply watch your class to the end and then follow the instructions on the final slide to submit your question online.

Class recorded January 05, 2024 

Probate is the legal process of distributing a person’s cash, property, and other assets after they die. For relatives and heirs, probate court can be complicated and intimidating, especially when disputes arise. In this class, learn the basics of probate and the administration of estates and trusts, including when probate can be avoided, how to challenge improper use or waste of estate property, and where to go for further information and assistance. Learning important legal fundamentals about probate can make your legal journey easier and more successful.

Class covers:

• What is probate, and how it works
• When probate is necessary, and when it can be avoided
• Appointment of administrators, and how to challenge an appointment
• What to do about improper use or transfer of estate property
• When probate court can get involved in trust administration
• Will challenges and what to do about possible financial elder abuse
• Resources for further information and where to seek help

Presented By:

Crystal Hayes Hill, My Legal Team (https://www.mylegalteamla.com/)

NOTE:  This class does not cover estate planning or how to draft estate documents, such as wills or trusts. Please attend the “Wills & Trusts: Where You Begin” class for information on this subject.

Course Materials: If you would like to receive a copy of the course materials for any of the classes, including any PowerPoint used, please register at the Register Now! button for the class, provided below. A staff member will email you the course materials (usually within one business day).

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice.  LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service.  The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons.  For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

During Pro Bono Week only, if you attend an online class and still have a question related to the content of that class, you can submit your question online and it will be answered by our team of expert law librarians or the class instructor. Simply watch your class to the end and then follow the instructions on the final slide to submit your question online.

Class recorded March 1, 2020

Many people can’t afford a lawyer to handle their legal issues, which can make dealing with separation and divorce especially difficult. In this class, learn the basics of how divorce and separation work under California family law, including the court process, dividing assets and debts, mediation and settlement options, and where to go for further information and assistance. Learning important legal fundamentals about family law can make your legal journey easier and more successful.

Class covers:

• The court process: steps in a divorce case, and what to expect
• Legal consequences of separation before (or without) divorce
• Dividing money, property, and debts
• Litigation, mediation and collaboration – the risks and benefits of each process
• Resources for further information and where to seek help

Presented By:

Kathleen O’Connor, Attorney, Law Office of Kathleen M. O’Connor (http://kmolaw.com/Welcome.html)

Course Materials: If you would like to receive a copy of the course materials for any of the classes, including any PowerPoint used, please register at the Register Now! button for the class, provided below. A staff member will email you the course materials (usually within one business day).

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice.  LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service.  The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons.  For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

During Pro Bono Week only, if you attend an online class and still have a question related to the content of that class, you can submit your question online and it will be answered by our team of expert law librarians or the class instructor. Simply watch your class to the end and then follow the instructions on the final slide to submit your question online.