Uncategorized – Free Range Law

Wondering if You Should Get an Irrevocable Trust in Response to Prop 19? For Most Families, Probably Not.

By Rachel Puryear, Semi-Retired Attorney, Legal Geek, Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway (DRE 02099554) Since the passage of Prop 19 in California, I have had several inquiries about what the new law means for families interested in estate planning. I have also noticed a trend of people asking if they should get an irrevocable trust, in order to avoid…

A Cold Case: Antarctica’s Unsolved Murder Investigation

By Rachel Puryear, Semi-Retired Attorney, Legal Geek, Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway (DRE 02099554) One of my bucket list items – on a long list of bucket list travel items – is to visit Antarctica. I want to see penguins and polar bears, and the glaciers (what’s left of them) against the glow of 18-hour+ sunlight.…

What California Homeowners and Families Should Know About Prop 19

By Rachel Puryear, Attorney and Broker California just passed Proposition 19, a mixed bag of changes to its property tax rules. Here’s a breakdown of the good, the bad, and the ugly of what it means for California homeowners, their families, and even their tenants. The Good: Who Wins from Prop 19: Homeowners over 55…

The Election Showed Us That Voting Matters, and Long Term Strategy is Key

By Rachel Puryear, Attorney and Real Estate Broker Hi there, friends of Free Range Law. I know it’s been a while, and I thank those of you who have reached out and said they have missed my posts. I have missed writing them, too, and am glad to be back. Like millions of others, I…

If You Haven’t Already, Register to Vote. If You Have, Help Someone Else Vote.

By Rachel Puryear, Attorney and Founder of Legal Document Helpers There’s an old joke among lawyers: Good lawyers know the law, but the best lawyers know the judge. This joke touches on an even older truth – that is, it matters who makes and interprets laws. Who the judge is, easily swings a legal case either…

If You’re Married and Buying a Home in CA, Here’s a Way to Title Your House for a Capital Gains Advantage

By Rachel Puryear, Attorney and Founder of Legal Document Helpers Buying a home is an exciting milestone for any couple! One of the little details you might not think about until it’s time to sign papers, though, is how to title your home. The papers you sign will include a form where you select how…

Workers’ Comp Claim Denied? This Benefit Can Tide You Over.

By Rachel Puryear, of Legal Document Helpers It’s bad enough to get hurt at work. It’s even worse when you cannot get workers’ compensation benefits following your injury. (Workers’ compensation benefits include payments to an injured worker in the form of wage replacement payments, paying for medical care, and compensation for long term impairment.) Reasons…

CA Supreme Court Gives a Hand Up to Future Bar Exam Takers. This is a Good Thing for All of Us.

By Rachel Puryear, Attorney at Law This past Thursday, the California Supreme Court determined via a letter to the State Bar that the next Bar Exam would take place online, on October 5-6. This is for the purpose of having a socially-distanced Bar Exam. Normally, the Bar Exam takes place in a large room, with…

DACA is Here to Stay! Here’s the Ruling, Explained.

By Rachel Puryear, Attorney at Law; with input from my friend Chester Ruiz – Career Advocate for Immigrants’ Rights, and Real Estate Extraordinaire Finally, the United States has had a couple pieces of much-needed good news come down this week, both from the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS). On Thursday, the SCOTUS ruled…

Black Lives Matter. Anyone Can Fight Racism, and Everyone Should.

By Rachel Puryear, Attorney at Law In the form of protests, much of the world mourns the racist murder by a police officer of an *unarmed* African-American man. George Floyd, 46, died after a Minneapolis police officer suffocated Floyd by kneeling on his neck, while Floyd lay handcuffed on the ground. Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor,…