Dana M. Heyde - Family and Estate Law

Jul

What You Need To Know About Revocable And Irrevocable Trusts

July 7, 2026Dana M. HeydeEstate Planning, Trusts

There are two primary types of trusts, revocable living trusts and irrevocable trusts. People often come to us curious or confused about the differences between revocable living trusts and irrevocable trusts. Revocable Living Trust A revocable living trust, also known simply as a living trust, is by far the most commonly used form of trust...

Jun

Two Reasons Why You Need More Than a Will

June 7, 2026Dana M. HeydeEstate Planning

When it comes to creating an estate plan, most people think first about a will. A will is an important document, but it is often not enough on its own. While it is possible to leave your estate to someone through a will, relying only on a will can create unnecessary court involvement, delays, expenses,...

Feb

Trusts & Homeowner’s Insurance: What You Need to Know So You Don’t Get a Claim Denied In the Future

February 19, 2025Dana M. HeydeLaw, Estate Planning, Home, House, Trusts

Putting your home in a trust is a smart estate planning move, but it can create unexpected insurance complications if not handled correctly. Learn how to protect one of your most valuable assets by properly aligning your homeowner’s insurance with your trust. Trusts & Homeowner’s Insurance: What You Need to Know So You Don’t Get...

Jan

Common Estate Planning Questions About Handling Your Assets

January 24, 2025Dana M. HeydeAssets, Beneficiary Rights, Estate Planning, Probate, Trusts, Uncategorized

Most estate planning attorneys would agree that one of the most common concerns among clients is the smooth transfer of assets to loved ones upon their death. Below are some essential facts for Orange County families and how they can avoid probate through careful planning and sound advice. Joint Ownership vs. Beneficiary Designations: What Orange...

Jul

They’re Not Kids Anymore! Navigating Your Child’s Transition Into Adulthood

July 25, 2024Dana M. HeydeUncategorized

When your child turns 18, they’re legally considered an adult even though they have a lot more growing to do (though they may not think so!). Just like any other adult, their health and financial information is protected by privacy laws. But unlike any other adult, that’s still your child and you want to be...

Jul

MOMMY ESQ. REPLACES MOMMY TRACKING WITH CAREER ADVANCEMENT

July 2, 2024Dana M. HeydeUncategorized

This article was originally published in Orange County Lawyer magazine. pages 28-29 July 2024 OC Lawyer Reprint JULY 2024 Heyde Grochow This article first appeared in Orange County Lawyer, July 2024 (Vol. 66 No. 7), p. 28. The views expressed herein are those of the author. They do not necessarily represent the views of Orange...

May

Untill Death or Divorce: Why You Need to Plan Now for Your Relationship’s End

May 2, 2024Dana M. HeydeDivorce, Assets, Beneficiary Rights, Children, Estate Planning, Law

After the excitement of Valentine’s Day fades away and the last indulgence of chocolate is savored, it’s crucial to turn our attention to a topic that may not be as thrilling as the idea of everlasting love: the reality that all relationships come to an end one day. Before you stop reading, hear me out....

Apr

PARENTS, STEP-PARENTS AND CHILDREN, OH MY!

April 8, 2024Dana M. HeydeArticles, Children, Estate Planning, Law, Probate, Trusts

BLENDED FAMILIES + DEATH = A POTENTIAL NIGHTMARE Anyone who’s seen an episode of “Modern Family” knows that families these days come in many different shapes and sizes. Long gone are the days when a “family” was defined as a mother, father and two children (or was it 2.5 children? Where does the .5 come...

Feb

PROBATE: WHAT IT IS & HOW TO AVOID IT — PART 2

February 9, 2024Dana M. HeydeUncategorized

PROBATE: WHAT IT IS & HOW TO AVOID IT — PART 2 Unless you’ve created an estate plan that works to keep your family out of court, when you die (or become incapacitated) many of your assets must go through probate before those assets can be distributed to your heirs. Like most court proceedings, probate...

Jan

PROBATE: WHAT IT IS & HOW TO AVOID IT — PART 1

January 16, 2024Dana M. HeydeEstate Planning, Probate, Trusts

WHAT IS PROBATE Unless you’ve created a proper estate plan, when you die many of your assets must first pass through the court process known as probate before those assets can be distributed to your heirs. Like most court proceedings, probate can be time-consuming, costly, and open to the public, and because of this, avoiding...

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