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What is a Literary Executor?

What is a Literary Executor?

by Kelley Way | Jul 1, 2024 | Authors and Writing, Copyrights, Estate Planning, Intellectual Property

A client recently asked me about literary executors and whether she needed one for her estate. Let’s review what a literary executor is and when appointing one would be a good idea. First, let’s talk about executors generally. “Executor” is the person you put in...
How Do I Work With A Co-author?

How Do I Work With A Co-author?

by Kelley Way | Jun 3, 2024 | Authors and Writing, Copyrights, Intellectual Property

Imagine this co-author meet cute: You’re sitting in a café, working on the latest draft of your manuscript, when you decide to take a break and chat with the person next to you. The two of you hit it off, and you find out they’re a writer, too. Even...
What Happens to My Website if I Die?

What Happens to My Website if I Die?

by Kelley Way | Jun 3, 2024 | Copyrights, Estate Planning, Intellectual Property

Many of us are website owners these days, and websites are one of those assets we would like to see last beyond our lifetime. But will that happen automatically? If not, what must be done to ensure the website continues after death? So, let’s answer the question: what...
What’s This Copyright Worth Anyway? Valuing Copyrights in an Estate

What’s This Copyright Worth Anyway? Valuing Copyrights in an Estate

by Kelley Way | May 6, 2024 | Authors and Writing, Copyrights, Estate Planning, Intellectual Property

Today, let’s discuss valuing copyrights in an estate by going over an example scenario: You have been named the executor of an estate. While going through this estate, you discover that the person published several books, which are still in print and making...
How Do I Gift My Copyright

How Do I Gift My Copyright

by Kelley Way | Apr 1, 2024 | Authors and Writing, Copyrights, Estate Planning, Intellectual Property

Making Copyright Bequests Let’s say you have written and published a book. Congratulations! Then you realize that you actually have to market the book to get people to buy it, and suddenly, it’s not so fun anymore. Or perhaps you’re happy with the...
How to Deal With Fanfiction

How to Deal With Fanfiction

by Kelley Way | Mar 5, 2024 | Authors and Writing, Copyrights, Intellectual Property

I was presented with an interesting question a while back when an author had to deal with fanfiction. A writer was successful enough to have a fanbase, who would sometimes send her fanfiction they wrote based on her novels. At one point, a fan sent her some fanfiction...
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Blog Post Archives

Recent Blog Posts

  • 5 Reasons Why Making a Will Can Be So Hard
  • FAQ: Why Does Copyright Expire?
  • Kelley Way’s Top Blog Posts for 2025
  • More on Copyright and AI
  • Who Are My Heirs?
  • Recent Estate Planning Horror Stories
  • What Happens to My Copyright When I Sign a Publishing Contract?
  • Do I Need a New Trust After I Get Married?
  • Copyright vs. Trademark (What’s the Difference?)
  • 3 More Copyright Myths You Should Know
  • How Can I Disinherit My Kid?
  • Will My Child’s Inheritance Cost Them Their Disability Benefits?
  • Should I Register A Trademark On My Book Title?
  • When Can I Use Quotes in My Book?
  • Does My 18-Year-Old Need An Estate Plan?
  • What Do I Do With Firearms in an Estate?
  • 3 Copyright Myths
  • How Do I Transfer Rights to My Kindle Direct Publishing Account After My Death?
  • Do I Really Need a Lawyer to Draft My Estate Plan?
  • Can AI Content Be Copyrighted?

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Be the first to receive news and updates as well as resources from Kelley Way. When you sign up, you’ll receive the wills of Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra, with comments on why one will is considered good and the other bad.  An overview of the estate planning process from start to finish.

And an explanation of the difference between copyrights, trademarks and patents.

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About

Kelley Way is a California attorney practicing estate planning, copyright, and trademark law. She helps her clients

  • Protect their assets from infringers, avoidable litigation, and unnecessary taxes;
  • Provide for their loved ones during and after their lifetime; and
  • Make solid plans for a secure future.

To learn more about how Kelley can help you, please contact her to schedule an appointment.

Office Hours

 Monday – Friday

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Office is closed during National Holidays

Phone: (925) 357-8845
Fax: (925) 357-8846
kaway@kawaylaw.com

150 N. Wiget Lane #210
Walnut Creek, CA 94598

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Recent Posts

FAQ: Why Does Copyright Expire?

On January 1, all the works published in 1930 entered the public domain, meaning their copyrights have expired and everyone can use these works without asking permission first. Of course, anytime...
Read More

5 Reasons Why Making a Will Can Be So Hard

Exploring the Emotional Barriers to Estate Planning According to multiple surveys, over half the American population does not have a will or trust (the exact number varies depending on the survey,...
Read More

Kelley Way’s Top Blog Posts for 2025

Happy holidays, friends! As we wrap up 2025, I wanted to share my favorite blog posts from the year. Whether you’re a writer, creator, or planning for the future, these posts cover estate planning,...
Read More

More on Copyright and AI

How your content might find itself in a training database I recently attended a writers conference, and a hot topic among attendees was copyrights and AI. However, they weren’t asking about the...
Read More

Who Are My Heirs?

Who Inherits Without a Will It has recently come to my attention that people don’t actually know who would inherit from them if they died without a will or trust.  I’m so well steeped in estate...
Read More

Recent Estate Planning Horror Stories

Halloween is around the corner, and what better time is there to go over celebrity estate plans gone wrong? So, grab your popcorn and sit back for a lesson on how some recently departed celebrities...
Read More

What Happens to My Copyright When I Sign a Publishing Contract?

You’ve been offered a publishing contract – congratulations! But then the doubt creeps in. Is this really a good idea? What if they decide they don’t like me? What if they decide they don’t like my...
Read More

Do I Need a New Trust After I Get Married?

Most people know that they need a new trust after a divorce. But what happens when they get married? Do they need to create a new one if they already have a trust? Let's dive into the question: Do I...
Read More

Copyright vs. Trademark (What’s the Difference?)

There is a lot of confusion when it comes to copyrights vs. trademarks. I’ll have prospects say they want a trademark when they actually mean a copyright. Or they want a copyright, and it becomes...
Read More

3 More Copyright Myths You Should Know

My previous article on copyright myths proved to be a hit, so I’m following it up with three more myths related to copyright: If it’s online, it’s free to use This myth is pervasive. It’s so easy to...
Read More
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