Articles
Written for the first weeks, not for other lawyers
Each of these answers a question families actually ask. Every article has a short video version.
What Wrongful Death Damages Can Heirs Recover?
California separates what the heirs may recover from what the estate may recover. The categories, how each is proved, and what is excluded.
Deciding on an Autopsy After a Sudden Death
When the coroner will perform an autopsy, when the family must request a private one, what it costs, and how the decision can affect a later claim.
Property Transfers After a Wrongful Death
How a decedent’s property passes in California, when a small estate affidavit is enough, and when probate must be opened before a claim can settle.
Funeral Expenses Paid by Wrongful Death Claims
Funeral, burial and cremation costs are recoverable in a California wrongful death claim. How they are documented and when they can be paid early.
Fatal Work Injuries and the Third-Party Claim
Workers compensation is rarely the only remedy when a worker is killed. How a third-party wrongful death claim runs alongside a comp claim.
Vehicular Manslaughter and the Civil Case
A criminal prosecution and a wrongful death lawsuit are separate proceedings with different standards of proof. How they interact, and what restitution does not cover.
Suicide: When Others Are To Blame
California recognizes wrongful death liability for a suicide in narrow circumstances, including custodial care and harassment. What the exceptions are and how the deadlines run.
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