Blog

Believe it or not, you do not need to register your work with the Copyright Office in order to have protection. You possess a copyright as soon as you complete any work that is copyrightable (such as a novel, painting, song, or video). However, it is still a very good...

A number of current and potential clients have asked me some great questions about their will or trust. For example: When should I update my will or trust? Once the document is signed, how long is it good for? At what point does it have to be revised? There is no one...

The question: Can I use a trademark in my book, has come up several times recently in conversations with clients, so here are some guidelines for using someone else’s trademark. As a general rule, it’s fine to use someone else’s trademark in your writing. Most brand...

Should I Be Worried About my Parent Part 2: Red flags for undue influence Last month I talked about how many people lose their mental abilities as they get older. Another unfortunate truth is that older people are often targets for financial abuse. Some people will...

Red Flags for Lack of Capacity It is unfortunate that as we get older, our mental abilities decline. Some people decline to the point that they can no longer take care of themselves or manage their finances. When a person’s cognitive ability declines to the point that...

When people contact me for help with copyrights or trademarks, they are often confused or mistaken about which area of law their issue falls under. For example, someone will ask me about copyrighting their company name or book title (that’s trademark law), or...

Most of us who have lived in California know that California is a community property state. But what does that mean, and how does that affect estate planning for California residents? Here’s how it works: when you are single, everything you own and earn is your...

Did you know there is a new venue for copyright small claims coming soon? When I first put this article on my blog schedule, the Copyright Claims Board was supposed to be up and running on January 1, 2022. Unfortunately, the Copyright Office has pushed back the launch...

Happy holidays! I hope each of you finds time to enjoy this season of good cheer. One way I find joy is in writing. Combining my passion for words and the law to share helpful information about copyright, trademark, and estate planning is a gift I love to give. Let's...