San Jose, California Legal Blog

California brothers in need of criminal defense after conspiracy

On behalf of The Law Offices of Richard Wingerden posted in criminal defense on Friday, March 15, 2019.

Certain schemes can cause a great deal of trouble for many people, including those accused of running the schemes. In these cases, individuals could face serious charges for fraud, embezzlement, money laundering and other serious crimes. If this happens, the accused parties will certainly want to focus on creating meaningful criminal defense presentations.

Two individuals in California are currently facing this type of predicament. According to reports, the two men, who are brothers, were recently indicted on charges relating to international money laundering, conspiracy and theft of government property. During their arraignment, both men pleaded not guilty to the allegations. As a result, they are scheduled to go to trial next month.

Avoiding titling errors during estate planning

On behalf of The Law Offices of Richard Wingerden posted in estate planning on Friday, March 1, 2019.

Mistakes are possible when it comes to almost anything. In some cases, mistakes are not a big deal or can be easily rectified. However, when errors occur with important life events, like estate planning, the consequences can be major and lead to difficulties for surviving family members.

California residents may want to make sure that they avoid mistakes while creating their estate plans if they can. One error to watch out for is titling assets incorrectly or forgetting to transfer the title to intended beneficiaries. In certain instances, individuals can put the name of a beneficiary on a title so that the asset transfers directly to the beneficiary without having to go through probate proceedings. However, if the deceased person's name remains on a title, that asset will likely have to go through probate.

State makes estate transfer easier for new homeowners

On behalf of The Law Offices of Richard Wingerden on Thursday, February 21, 2019.

You’ve just bought your first house. You’ve signed all the papers, written all the checks and now you are turning the knob on the front door and stepping into the pristine front hallway.

This is not usually a time you think of your eventual death, but you should still keep such an event in mind.

An estate plan is important for its creator and the family

On behalf of The Law Offices of Richard Wingerden posted in wills and trusts on Tuesday, February 19, 2019.

Many people put off estate planning. They often think that they have time to create plans or that they do not need a will or other documents. While every adult can benefit from an estate plan, California residents may want to remember that these plans are not just for themselves but for their family members too.

Estate plans are often needed by family members when a loved one becomes incapacitated or passes away. They will use the will and other documents to make decisions regarding medical care if the person is still alive and for funeral arrangements, asset division and other matters after the person's passing. Of course, power of attorney documents and health care directives need to have been made beforehand in order to help the family avoid an even more difficult situation.

Criminal defense could affect results of drug crime case

On behalf of The Law Offices of Richard Wingerden posted in criminal defense on Tuesday, January 29, 2019.

The possible penalties that can result from a conviction for criminal charges depend on many factors. The exact charges involved, extenuating circumstances and whether a conviction actually takes place could all play roles. Additionally, an accused party's criminal defense is often a vital part of the proceedings.

It was recently reported that a California woman was taken into custody on drug-related charges. According to reports, the woman works as a nurse and had allegedly been using accounts and websites on the dark web to sell opioids across the country. The woman purportedly sold over 20,000 prescription pills, and authorities reportedly became aware of her activities after a bust of one of the dark web sites in 2017. The data seized from the site led them to the woman.

The perils of ignoring estate planning when remarrying

On behalf of The Law Offices of Richard Wingerden posted in estate planning on Friday, January 18, 2019.

Remarrying generally brings about a lot of changes. In the midst of preparing for this new phase of his or her life, it can be very important for a person who is getting remarried to give some attention to estate planning. This can especially be the case if she or he has kids from a prior marriage.

Failing to give attention to estate planning upon remarrying can open the door to a lot of problematic things when a person passes away, such as: