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Kelley Way has been creating blog posts across many topics of Estate Planning, Copyright and Trademark law. If you have a topic or question you’d like covered, reach out to Kelley Way here.
Five Ways to Protect Yourself While Sheltering in Place
I think it’s safe to say that most Californians are tired of sheltering in place, or at least are tired of binge-watching TV. If you’re looking for a project that actually makes you feel productive, might I suggest you work on your estate plan? If that project hasn’t...
What Should I Do About My Estate Plan During the Shelter in Place Order and Coronavirus (COVID-19) Crisis?
The Impact of Sheltering in Place on Creating or Updating Your Estate Plan Here are some questions you might be asking right now: Should I Work on My Will and Trust? Can I Work on My Estate Plan? Is This A Good Time to Update My Estate Plan? Here Are Some Questions...
I’ve Inherited A Copyright, Now What?
Five things you should know and do when you inherit a copyright. Under the current copyright laws, a copyright lasts for the author’s lifetime plus seventy years. This means that a copyright will always outlive its creator, and it will be passed on at least once. But...
Do My Children Have to Get Their Inheritance All at Once?
Different Ways to Space Out Inheritance Distributions If a person dies in California without a will or trust, the California Probate Code decides what happens to their estate (i.e., all their earthly possessions). Under the Probate Code, if the decedent (legalese for...
Can I Use Other People’s Fictional Characters in My Book?
Fictional Characters in Books In my previous articles, I talked about incorporating real people and real trademarks in your book. In this article, I’ll be talking about fictional people – specifically, fictional characters that are still protected by copyright. The...
Can I Write About a Real Person in My Book?
Defamation, Right of Privacy and Right of Publicity in Writing I've recently been asked, "Can I write about a real person in my book?" There are several ways this question pops up: Could you have your fictional character meet a celebrity? Can you use real names in a...
What is a Power of Attorney?
Three things everyone should know about a Power of Attorney On a broad level, a power of attorney is a legal document that gives someone the authority to act on your behalf. For example, a financial advisor might ask you to sign a power of attorney, giving them the...
What is an Advance Health Directive?
When and why you need an Advance Health Directive If you've ever been admitted to a hospital, you’ve likely been asked the question “Do you have an advance health care directive?” (It’s possible one or two of those words were missing: “advance directive” or “health...
Can I Talk About a Real Business in My Book?
Use of Trademarks in Writing An editor friend of mine told me she recently had a client who made up a restaurant name for her book. When my friend looked into it, she discovered that there was a restaurant with that exact name a few hours from where she lived. She...